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Portrait 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 Portrait 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 Portrait of a Graduate?

  • A Portrait 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 Portrait 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 Portrait 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 Portrait of a Graduate – every school system’s Portrait is unique, reflecting the shared vision of their community.  

Portrait of a Graduate Design Team Meetings

Pasco School District (PSD) is thrilled to invite passionate community members like YOU to join our Design Team as we create the district's vision for a Portrait of a Graduate. This is a unique opportunity to help shape the identity of our future graduates and make a lasting impact on our community.

Meeting Dates and Locations (childcare provided):

  • October 2nd | 5:00-7:30 pm | PHS Student Mall | Dinner provided
  • November 6th | 5:30-7:30 pm | CHS Student Mall
  • December 11th | 5:30-7:30 pm | Stevens Middle School Commons
  • January 29th | 5:30-7:30 pm | Location TBD

Committee Purpose:
As key stakeholders in our district, the Portrait of a Graduate Design Team will focus on:

  • Analyzing changes in the world and their implications for our students.
  • Defining the skills students need to succeed now and in the future.
  • Developing a shared local vision for the competencies essential to PSD’s graduates.
  • Creating strategies to ensure our Portrait of a Graduate is a reality for every student.

How Are We Developing Our Portrait of a Graduate?

Our journey toward creating a Portrait 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 Portrait 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 Portrait 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.