The top reported proficiency rate is 49% in English language arts. The lowest is 46% in Science.
Original Research by School Decision on Centennial Elementary School
Centennial Elementary sits on Centennial Road in Dade City, serving pre-kindergarten through fifth grade as a regular public school in Pasco County. The enrollment is mid-sized for its grade band, with a fairly even spread of students across grades, and a majority qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, meaning this is a school that serves a substantial share of economically disadvantaged families. Racially, the school is majority white with a large Hispanic population and smaller Black and multiracial groups. Data on English learners and students with IEPs was not available in what we reviewed.
On state assessments, the picture is uneven and worth a parent's close attention. Florida reports FAST results by grade, and the pattern here shows a meaningful split. Third graders score at a level where more than half are proficient in both math and ELA, which is the stronger end of what this school posts. By fourth and fifth grade, math and ELA proficiency rates drop noticeably, with fewer than half of students at grade level in those years. The fifth-grade science result sits in a similar range to fourth and fifth grade ELA. The sixth-grade math figure was suppressed, likely due to a small group size. Trend data across years was not available, so it is not possible to say whether these numbers are improving, holding, or declining. Parents who want to understand the trajectory should ask the school directly. No comparison against other Pasco County schools is possible here because the comparison set contains only one district, making a meaningful ranking inapplicable.
The school has no magnet designation and no charter status. Program information was not included in what we reviewed, so specifics on enrichment, intervention tiers, or specialty offerings are gaps a parent would want to fill by visiting the school or reviewing the Pasco County Schools website. Title I status was also not reported in the data.
Dade City itself is the county seat of eastern Pasco County, a place publicly described as having a small-town, historic-Florida character rooted in agriculture, with a red-brick downtown built around the courthouse square that holds antique shops, cafes, and galleries. Major employers include AdventHealth, Florida Medical Clinic, and Pasco County Schools itself. The broader area outside the downtown core is car-dependent, and most daily needs require driving. The housing market here sits below Florida's statewide median home value and has edged slightly downward year over year, while rents have moved modestly upward. Renting and owning land at roughly comparable monthly costs in this zip code, which is somewhat unusual and worth factoring into any housing decision.
Dade City is on a growth trajectory. Publicly reported coverage describes large master-planned developments coming to the area along Handcart Road and nearby corridors, with new roads, utilities, and dedicated school sites being built. Residents are divided about this growth, with some concerned about traffic and the character of the town changing. Families considering buying here should be aware that attendance zones across Pasco County are being actively adjusted as the district manages surging enrollment, particularly in the Wesley Chapel corridor, and rezoning is a real possibility over the next few years.
At the district level, Pasco voters approved a millage referendum in 2022 to fund teacher and staff salaries, and the board is seeking a renewal in November 2026, which would continue as a property-tax cost for homeowners. A separate sales-tax renewal passed in 2022 funds school construction and renovations, including in high-growth areas. Teacher vacancies across the district have dropped substantially since the salary funding took effect, which is a meaningful shift in staffing stability.
Centennial Elementary's math and ELA results, particularly in the middle and upper elementary grades, are an area a parent would reasonably want to explore further before making enrollment decisions, asking the school what interventions are in place and how students who fall behind in third grade are supported through fourth and fifth.
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