Florida

Florida Department of Education Releases 2015 School Grades

The Florida Department of Education released school grades for the 2014-2015 school year, and South Florida school districts were among the top of the class.

According to overall district grades, both Palm Beach and Monroe counties received an "A," while Miami-Dade and Broward counties both earned a "B."

Miami-Dade School Superintendent Alberto Carvalho said the results are difficult to gauge.

"To make an 'A' last year you had to perform at this level, to make an 'A' this year you had to perform at this level, the standards themselves are different, the body of knowledge much more complex," he said.

Miami-Dade schools receiving an F include Arcola Lake Elementary and Carol City Middle. In all, there were 20 F schools in Miami-Dade.

A-rated schools, among others, are Flagami Elementary and Alonzo and Tracy Mourning High.

Carvalho said his formula for improving failing schools will continue.

"I have replaced by now 80 percent of all principals in Miami-Dade, they are fantastic instructional leaders who understand teaching and learning," he said. "Secondly, [I'm] recruiting the best teachers to the classrooms, particularly to the most fragile schools."

Meanwhile, in Broward, upwards of 30 schools received an F grade. But there were also success stories like Tropical Elementary, which saw its grade go from a C to an A.

"I have dedicated teachers that work hard and put a lot of planning into it, we were confident we'd come in strong and we have great school culture so our kids worked hard and we're elated to have great results," Principal Erik Anderson said.

Broward School officials also said they are taking steps to increase student achievement.

"We are committed to providing a high-quality education to all students. Our dedicated teachers, administrators and staff are working hard each day to deliver rigorous, innovative and supportive learning environments in our schools," Superintendent Robert Runcie said in a statement. “While there were significant issues associated with the state’s implementation of the 2015 FSA, we are continuing to analyze data, sharing best practices, and maintain our focus on doing what’s right for students."

Throughout the state, the preliminary grades given out for 3,219 schools show that 1,169 schools received A grades and 642 were given a B. A total of 184 schools earned an F grade while 365 schools were given a D. Some 859 schools got a C grade.

School grades were delayed because the state had to come up with passing scores for the new test. School superintendents wanted to pause school grades for this year based on the troubled rollout of the new test last spring.

This year's calculation was revised from previous years in order to implement changes made by the 2014 Legislature and for the new Florida Standards Assessments (FSA).

School grades focus on achievement, learning gains, graduation rates, acceleration success and maintaining a focus on students who need the most support.

For a complete breakdown of the 2015 Florida School grades, including information on how your student's school performed, visit the Florida Department of Education School Accountability Reports.

Copyright AP - Associated Press
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