Thousands of Pasco County Schools students will be affected by proposed boundary changes for the 2020-2021 school year.
Most of the boundary changes are related to the opening of Cypress Creek Middle School, which is scheduled to open next fall.
But there are also some changes being proposed that will affect schools in Central Pasco — but would not affect any current students in those schools. Those changes are being proposed based on future development, according to school district materials.
A public workshop is planned on Oct. 7, from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m., at Wiregrass Ranch High School, 2909 Mansfield Blvd., in Wesley Chapel, to detail the proposed boundary shifts.
The proposed boundary maps will be displayed and district staff will be available to answer questions.
The Pasco County School Board also will hold a public hearing on Nov. 5, at 6 p.m., at the district’s office complex, 2727 Land O’ Lakes Blvd., in Land O’ Lakes. A final public hearing on the proposed changes is scheduled at the same location for Nov. 19, at 6 p.m.
The district is in the midst of constructing a new Cypress Creek Middle School, boosting the capacity on the Cypress Creek Middle High campus, at 8701 Old Pasco Road. That campus has been serving students in grades six through 12.
Initially, the district had planned to build both a high school and a middle school on the site, but lacked sufficient funding. So, it opened the high school, but used the buildings to serve students in grades six through 12.
Now, it is planning to open the new middle school in 2020 — shifting existing middle school students into the new school and adding additional students to fill it up.
The extra space in the high school also will be filled through boundary shifts.
The district plans to shift some students from John Long Middle School to Cypress Creek Middle, and also to shift some students from Wiregrass Ranch High to Cypress Creek High boundary.
But boundaries at Pasco High, Pasco Middle, Quail Hollow Elementary, San Antonio Elementary, Wesley Chapel High and Zephyrhills High also will be affected.
The additional proposed boundary adjustments are designed to align school feeder patterns and keep students together as they progress through the school system.
In addition to posting this information on the district’s website, district officials also are contacting potentially impacted families to share this information.
Besides the changes relating to Cypress Creek Middle and Cypress Creek High boundaries, the district also is proposing boundary adjustments to provide for future development.
These boundary changes would not affect any current students, according to information on the district’s website. But changes are being proposed that would affect future populations of these schools: Connerton Elementary, Dr. Mary Giella Elementary, Crews Lake Middle, Pine View Middle, Hudson High and Land O’ Lakes High.
Where: Wiregrass Ranch High School, 2909 Mansfield Blvd., Wesley Chapel
When: Oct. 7, 5 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Details: Maps of proposed boundary changes will be displayed and school district staff will be on hand to answer questions about the proposed changes.
More information: Go to www.pasco.k12.fl.us for additional information.
Published October 2, 2019
