Journey of a Graduate

At Pasco School District, we believe in empowering every student to succeed, both in school and beyond. That’s why we are embarking on the creation of a Journey of a Graduate—a collective vision that outlines the key skills, mindsets, and competencies our students will need to excel in the 21st century. This initiative will guide our educational strategies, ensuring that every student graduates prepared not only for the workforce but for lifelong learning and active citizenship.

Why a Journey of a Graduate?

• A Journey of a Graduate is a collective vision that articulates our community’s aspirations for all of our students. 
• As educational leaders, it is important to ask:  
  • What are the hopes, aspirations, and dreams that our community has for our young people? 
  • What are the skills and mindsets that our children need for success in this rapidly changing and complex world? 
  • What are the implications for the learning experiences we provide in our school systems? 
• The Journey of a Graduate is the first step in framing a new vision for our school system. And once we create our Portrait, the exciting work of implementing this new vision begins. 
• When complete, our Journey of a Graduate will be a North Star to guide our system’s transformation.  
• Now more than ever, learning experiences must not only provide for the acquisition of rigorous academic content, but they must also be more intentional about fostering critical thinking, communication, collaboration, creativity, and other 21st century skills our young people need to thrive in this complex, rapidly changing world. 
• Many school systems across the country have engaged their larger community in developing a Journey of a Graduate – every school system’s journey is unique, reflecting the shared vision of their community.  

How Are We Developing Our Journey of a Graduate?

Our journey toward creating a Journey of a Graduate will take place over several months, beginning with four dedicated Design Team meetings. During these sessions, our team will:

• Examine how global and societal changes affect our students.
• Identify the key competencies that students need to thrive, both today and in the future.
• Develop a shared, local vision for Pasco School District that reflects the community’s values and goals for its graduates.
• Explore how to ensure that every student can achieve the competencies outlined in our Portrait of a Graduate.

What Happens Next?

Our Journey of a Graduate will serve as a foundation for guiding the district's educational strategies and priorities in the years to come. This vision will be instrumental in creating meaningful learning experiences for every student—from our youngest learners to our graduating seniors.

Once our Journey of a Graduate is finalized, we will move into the next phase: implementing this vision across the district as part of our Strategic Plan. This will include setting goals, identifying resources, and ensuring that every Pasco student can benefit from the new vision for their education.