3 Pasco Schools Approved For Cambridge Education Program

LAND O’ LAKES, FL – Pasco County announced today that three more of its schools have been accepted into the Cambridge Education Program.

San Antonio Elementary School, Paul R. Smith Middle School and Anclote High School will be offering the Cambridge program in the 2017-18 school year. Anclote will offer the program to students in grades 9 and 10 the first year. Paul R. Smith will provide it in all three of its grade levels, including advanced electives matching with core academics. San Antonio will offer the primary curriculum in each grade level including kindergarten.

The curriculum and assessments are designed with five University of Cambridge attributes in mind: confident, responsible, reflective, innovative and engaged. The rigorous curriculum is comparable to Advanced Placement and International Baccalaureate programs.

“The idea of placing high-rigor programs at Anclote High School and Paul R. Smith Middle School is one of our top priorities,” said Superintendent Kurt Browning.

Students in the high school program can earn college credits and an international diploma. Those who earn a diploma also qualify for a Florida Prepaid College scholarship.

“Anclote High School is honored to join the Cambridge International family of schools in offering the Cambridge Secondary 2 and Advanced programs to students in west Pasco County,” said Anclote High School Principal Michelle Williams. “We look forward to providing students with the opportunity to experience this rigorous, yet flexible, college preparatory curriculum.”

Joel DiVincent, the principal at Paul R. Smith Middle School, said the partnership will provide amazing opportunities for their students.

“Paul R. Middle School, along with our community, is very excited and honored to join with Cambridge International to bring this advanced academic program to the west Pasco Community,” he said.

Pasco County Schools launched the Cambridge Education program at Pasco Middle and Pasco High schools in 2014. As San Antonio Elementary is a feeder school for both, it was selected to prepare students for the challenging academic program as they continue their education.

“The addition of SAES will provide for the Cambridge curriculum to be in the entire Pasco High School feeder pattern,” Browning said. “This is great news for these schools and the students they serve.”

San Antonio Elementary School Principal Kim Anderson said she is looking forward to implementing the Cambridge Primary Program.

“The proven success of the Cambridge programs at Pasco Middle and Pasco High School makes it so exciting to expand it to this feeder school,” Anderson said.

The schools will schedule parent information meetings in late January and early February. They will also have a separate application period than the district’s school choice open enrollment period, which runs from Feb. 1 to March 1.

Image via the Pasco County Schools Facebook page