BREVARD COUNTY, Florida -- The number of Florida high schools and combination high schools
getting an A grade for 2012 rose to 231, up from 148 last year, in
preliminary results released today by the Florida Department of
Education. While the results are encouraging given the move to more
rigorous standards, they include measures approved by the State Board of Education to ease the transition for the 2011-12 school year.
Brevard County Public Schools received and 'A' grade overall for the
school district with 68% of Brevard County students receiving a
satisfactory reading score, 67% satisfactory in math, 82% in writing,
and 62% in science. Grades for each school are posted at the bottom of the article.
"I want to thank students, teachers, parents, and school leaders
throughout the state for their commitment to academic success," said
Commissioner of Education Pam Stewart. "This year's results reflect both
higher standards and temporary safeguards the State Board of Education
approved to help smooth the transition. As we continue toward
implementing Common Core State Standards and assessments, we will
continue to raise the bar as we prepare our students for success beyond
high school."
In addition to higher achievement levels this year, the state moved
to a more rigorous graduation rate formula for high schools and expanded
the basis for college readiness measures, focusing on all on-time
graduates. Next year, high school grades will include biology and
geometry end-of-course assessments.
An increase in the number of A high schools and combination high
schools in Florida is good news for school districts. High school grades determine school
recognition funds, which reward schools that have sustained high student
performance or have shown substantial student performance improvement.
The Florida Legislature approved $134,582,877 for that purpose for 2012-2013.
While Florida elementary and middle school grades are calculated using
assessment components, high school grades include both assessment-based
components and other components, such as graduation rates and
accelerated coursework. In addition, numerous changes were made to the
grading formula, such as moving to the federal graduation rate and using
more challenging measures of postsecondary readiness. The largest
increase in points for assessment-based components came from overall
reading gains and reading gains of the lowest performing 25 percent of
students.
Statewide Florida Regular High Schools and Combination Schools
(Excluding ESE Center Schools)
| 2012 Preliminary Grades (Pre-appeals) |
2011 Final Grades (Post-appeals) |
Change | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| School Grade | Number | Percentage | Number | Percentage | Number | Percentage Point Change |
| A | 231 | 47% | 148 | 31% | 83 | 16% |
| B | 154 | 31% | 223 | 47% | -69 | -16% |
| C | 89 | 18% | 72 | 15% | 17 | 3% |
| D | 14 | 3% | 25 | 5% | -11 | -2% |
| F | 3 | 1% | 6 | 1% | -3 | 0% |
| Total | 491 | 474 | 17 | |||
Ten exceptional student education (ESE) center schools received Fs.
These schools provide specialized services to students with disabilities
who cannot be served in the general school setting. This is the first
year that ESE centers were included in Florida's school accountability
system - a requirement in order for Florida to get a federal elementary
and secondary education act flexibility waiver. ESE centers could either
choose to receive a school improvement rating based on student learning
gains or a school grade based on student performance and learning
gains. Any school that receives an F is placed into the state's
differentiated accountability program, which provides targeted support
to schools needing to improve the most. For ESE schools, field teams
will include educators with expertise in learning strategies for
students with disabilities.
Statewide Florida Exceptional Student Education Center Schools
Choosing to Receive a School Grade
| School Grade | First Year 2012 Preliminary Grades (Pre-appeals) |
2011 Final Grades (Post-appeals) |
|---|---|---|
| Schools Choosing School Improvement Rating |
72 | NA |
| School Grade | First Year 2012 Preliminary Grades (Pre-appeals) |
2011 Final Grades (Post-appeals) |
|---|---|---|
| Schools Choosing School Grade | ||
| A | 0 | NA |
| B | 0 | NA |
| C | 0 | NA |
| D | 1 | NA |
| F | 10 | NA |
| Too Small | 16 | NA |
| Total | 99 | NA |
School districts have an opportunity to appeal high school grades
through February 1, 2013. The results of that process will determine
school recognition funds. To receive school recognition dollars a school
must receive an A, increase their grade from the previous year,
maintain their grade after improving two or more letter grades, or
receive a school improvement rating of Improving.