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Four Sarasota elementaries shift to K'8; Gulf Coast Academy adds 6th grade with USF partnership
Summary
Superintendent Terry Connor said Alta Vista, Brentwood, Gulf Gate and Wilkinson will begin transitioning from K'5 to K'8 this year as 6th graders join; Gulf Coast Academy will start a 6th-grade cohort focused on AI, machine learning and cybersecurity in partnership with the University of South Florida.
Terry Connor, superintendent of Sarasota County Schools, said four elementary schools — Alta Vista, Brentwood, Gulf Gate and Wilkinson — will begin transitioning to K'8 this year, with 6th graders joining to increase building utilization and meet community demand. "We ventured out to create 4 K— schools," Connor said, explaining the move came from community input and the need to use existing facilities more effectively amid declining enrollment.
Connor also described a reimagined Gulf Coast Academy of Innovation and Technology that will include 6th grade as an inaugural class for unique programmatic offerings. He said the academy will give students focused exposure to artificial intelligence, machine learning and cybersecurity through a partnership with the University of South Florida: "We're partnering with the University of South Florida to make sure that we're giving the best in our ability to... educate students on these innovative concepts." The superintendent framed the changes as responsive steps to family demand and district resource constraints, rather than cuts to programming.
The district encouraged families to check school communications for details about transitions, as the shifts affect feeder patterns, grade configurations and programming at the affected campuses.
