What is Kirkland Ranch K-8?

Pasco County is proud to be opening a new dedicated magnet school for the 24-25 school year, Kirkland Ranch K-8. This school will have the magnet themes of World Languages and Entrepreneurship woven throughout the student experience. Students will begin with their language acquisition in kindergarten and will have the opportunity to earn high school World Language credits in their middle school years.  Pasco County Schools believes that providing these opportunities to students will empower them to discover their talents in a safe and nurturing learning environment.

World Languages

Kirkland Ranch K-8 will offer a complete foreign language program, from kindergarten through 8th grade. The course progression allows students to be exposed to the Spanish language at the onset of their elementary grade levels. The program is designed to allow students to develop their skills through a comprehensive language acquisition process, targeting all language domains such as speaking, listening, reading, and writing. Cultural connections are also integrated into the program. Students will have the opportunity to obtain up to three high school foreign language credits upon completion of 8th grade.

Entrepreneurship

Kirkland Ranch K-8 is the only school in Pasco County that offers a magnet entrepreneurship program, from kindergarten through 8th grade. The course progression allows students to cultivate entrepreneurial mindsets and capabilities beginning in elementary school. The program is designed to allow students to develop their skills and overall awareness of “what it takes” to become a successful entrepreneur. Students will develop their entrepreneurial capabilities in connection with the core curriculum to explore their creativity, learn how money works, discover how their local government and the economy work, and broaden their future career horizons.  Students will have the opportunity to obtain digital tools and high school credit upon completion of 8th grade.

How can I attend Kirkland Ranch K-8?

All students who would like to attend Kirkland Ranch K-8 dedicated magnet school must apply through the Pasco Pathways School Choice application process. All students who apply through school choice are to be sent for the lottery, even if this number exceeds the total number of available seats. Preferences established in the Controlled Open Enrollment Plan will be followed when the number of eligible applicants exceeds the number of seats open. Students residing in the district will be given preference, followed by students outside the district.  Applicants are randomized and seats are filled by the number of open opportunities designated during the seat setting process. Students not placed during the lottery process will be placed on a randomized waitlist. Please note that the school will open for the 2024 - 2025 school year with grades Pre-K through 7 only.

Athletics

Students of Kirkland Ranch K-8, a dedicated magnet middle school, as defined by school choice, are eligible to try out for sports offered at any public middle school in Pasco County for the 2024-25 school year. Participation is based on attending tryouts at a school of choice and notifying the school prior to attending tryouts. Dedicated magnet middle school students do not have to participate in sports at the same school for entire year, at this time middle school seasons are based the quarter system. The following middle school sports are offered each year at all traditional public schools in Pasco County: 1^st qtr. – Girls Volleyball, Cheer, Football, 2^nd qtr. – Cheer, Girls Basketball, Boys Soccer, 3^rd qtr. - Boys Basketball, Girls Soccer, 4^th qtr. – Boys and Girls Track & Field.  Please visit www.pasco.k12.fl.us/athletics for additional information.

Transportation

Attendance at a magnet school is a choice option, and as such, neighborhood transportation is not guaranteed. If transportation is provided, it will be from hub stops generally located at district school sites. The location and number of hub stops available will be determined by the district. Planned hub stops are listed with each school, but please note that these hubs may not be implemented or continued if there is not sufficient interest or ridership. No additional hub locations will be provided besides those listed. If no hub stop location is listed next to the desired school, no hub stops are planned for that school. Hub locations will be reviewed and finalized after the second school choice window acceptances are received and interest in hub transportation can be determined. Hub locations are subject to change at any time. In the event that a hub location must be relocated, the new location would be in the same general area.  Parents are responsible for providing transportation to and from the designated hubs or directly to the school. 

View the current list of bus hubs for the 23-24 school year.

View the anticipated list of bus hubs for the 24-25 school year.

What is Starkey Ranch K-8?

Pasco County’s first K-8, Starkey Ranch magnet school opened for the 21-22 school year with the themes of technical fine arts, computer science, and world language. In the Academy of the Arts, students will participate in and produce works of art, theater, and dance on a regular basis through our unique course offerings in musical theatre, dance, orchestra, steel drums, and traditional art and music classes. In Computer Science, students will work with technology like 3-D printers and laser cutters, and they will have the opportunity to take industry certification exams to prove their practical skills. In World Languages, students can experience a complete foreign language program from kindergarten through 8th grade.

How can I attend Starkey Ranch K-8?

All students who live in the attendance boundary for Starkey Ranch K-8 may attend. Only students from outside of the attendance boundary need to apply through the Pasco Pathways School Choice Application. All out of zone students who apply will be sent for the lottery, even if this number exceeds the total number of available seats. Preferences established in the Controlled Open Enrollment Plan will be followed when the number of eligible applicants exceeds the number of seats open. Students residing in the district will be given preference, followed by students outside the district. Applicants are randomized and seats are filled by the number of open opportunities designated during the seat setting process. Students not placed during the lottery process will be placed on a randomized waitlist.

Transportation

Attendance at a magnet school is a choice option, and as such, transportation is not provided unless the school is your zoned school and you live two miles or more from the school. Students attending their zoned school and who live two miles or more from the school will be provided neighborhood stops. Elementary students living less than two miles from the school who have hazardous walking conditions as defined in Florida Statute 1006.23 will also be provided transportation. Students living outside the boundary may not use existing stops within the boundary. 

Hub stops may be provided for students living outside the boundary; however, there is no guarantee that hub stops will be provided. If provided, hub stops will generally be located at district school sites. The location and number of hub stops available will be determined by the district. If hub stops are listed by the school, these are the current hub stops planned for the school. No additional hub locations will be provided besides those listed. If a hub location does not have sufficient interest or ridership, it may not be implemented or continued. If hub stops are not listed by a school, this indicates that either there will not be hub stops or that hub stops, if any, will be finalized after the second school choice window acceptances are received and interest in hub transportation can be determined. Hub locations are subject to change at any time. In the event that a hub location must be relocated, the new location would be in the same general area. Parents are responsible for providing transportation to and from the designated hubs or directly to the school.

View the current list of bus hubs for the 23-24 school year.

View the anticipated list of bus hubs for the 24-25 school year.

 

Prior to applying for school choice, you must have a Parent Portal account set up in our student information system (myStudent). Please visit Enrollment Services for additional information.

Sign up to receive more info via email and get a friendly reminder once the Pasco Pathways school choice application window opens later this school year.

 

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