Pasco schools report steady college-credit rates; district plans work group to expand AP, Cambridge, IB and dual enrollment access

District staff presented results and next steps on advanced-academic options at a Pasco County School Board workshop, highlighting steady college-credit attainment and plans for an acceleration work group to expand access.

Dr. Iles, district staff, told the board the discussion would focus on “progress for ’24–’25 for advanced placement, ACE, IB, and dual enrollment,” and tied the work to the district’s strategic goals to increase student completion of acceleration options and college- and career-readiness. “A specific action goal,” Dr. Iles said, “is increasing the percent of students being successful with an advanced academic coursework by 10 percent.”

The district presented cohort data showing the share of graduates who earned college credit in high school. Staff said the 2020–21 graduating cohort earned college credit at a 39 percent rate; the 2021–22 cohort rose to about 61 percent after the district implemented an English General Paper course in 11th grade and because testing conditions during the COVID period were atypical. For the current senior cohort staff reported 56 percent of students have already earned college credit; current juniors are at 24 percent and sophomores at 14 percent.

On advanced placement, Mrs. DiValley, district staff, said 33 percent of the class of 2025 passed an AP exam — a 5-point increase from prior years — and that the district saw a 15 percent increase in AP exams administered and an 11 percent increase in students taking AP tests. “When you test more…