Duval County Only District in State to Increase "A" Schools and Decrease "F" Schools
Jacksonville, FL - The Florida Department of Education has released the
updated
2012 school grades for Duval County Public Schools. Despite the anticipated decrease in school grades, Duval County Public Schools was the only school district in the state to increase the number of "A" schools and decrease the number of "F" schools.
The Florida Department of Education recently released school grade recalculations.
With the updates, school grades in Duval County increased even further. The following information reflects the updated information for the 2011-12 school year based on these recalculations.
"A decrease in school grades was expected because of the increased rigor," said Superintendent Ed Pratt-Dannals. "While we have seen some reductions, they are not as drastic as we anticipated. I commend our teachers and principals for their hard work in preparing our students for the most rigorous expectations in the country."
The higher standards were implemented to better prepare students for college and the workforce. Florida Department of Education officials have been moving to higher academic standards, new assessments that measure students' progress toward meeting the standards, and higher achievement levels for reading and math. The higher standards, assessments and achievement levels were used to determine school grades this year. Commissioner of Education Gerard Robinson addressed a
letter to parents and guardians earlier this month explaining the anticipated drop in students and schools' grades.
This year in Duval County, 118 schools out of the 142 schools earned excellent, good or satisfactory grades, while
24 schools received a "D" or "F." All of our 21 high schools are still awaiting their grades, which incorporate access to and performance in accelerated coursework, college readiness and graduation rates. High school scores are scheduled to be released in December.
The shining stars in this year's results include Highlands Elementary School, which improved by
four letter grades from an "F" to a "A," and three schools which rose three
letter grades - Cedar Hills Elementary from a "D" to an "A," John Love
Elementary from an "F" to a "B," and KIPP Middle Charter School from an "F" to a
"B."
The following schools improved by two letter grades: Arlington Elementary (C to A), Brentwood Elementary (F to C), Carter G. Woodson Elementary (C to A), Fishweir Elementary (C to A), George Washington Carver Elementary (D to B), Greenfield Elementary (C to A), North Shore Elementary (D to B), Spring Park Elementary (C to A), Reynolds Lane Elementary (C to A), Venetia Elementary (C to A) and River City Science Charter (C to A).
School grades are based on the following items:
Student proficiency in FCAT Reading, Math, Science and Writing, including students with disabilities and English language learners;
The percentage of students making one year gains in reading and math; and
The percentage of the lowest performing students making one year gains in reading and math
Additional criteria for high schools includes:
The percentage of students who participate in college level courses (AP, IB, AICE and Dual Enrollment);
The percentage of students who successfully complete college level courses;
Overall graduation rates and at-risk students' graduation rates; and
College readiness in reading and math
The 2012 FCAT results released in May reported that more Duval County students are performing at or above grade level in reading, math and science even with the new standards in place. Complete state, district and school-level summary reports are available at:
http://schoolgrades.fldoe.org.
2012 School Grades
-Based on 142 schools that received grades-
2010/2011
2011/2012
A
48
57
B
29
27
C
41
34
D
15
22
F
5
2
Pending
19
21
Note: Charter Schools are included in the numbers above
19 schools went up one letter grade. 11 schools went up two letter grades. Three
schools went up three letter grades and one school went up four letter grades
Highlands Elementary School improved by four letter grades from an "F" to a "A;"
three schools rose three letter grades - Cedar Hills from "D" to "A," John Love
from "F" to "B," and KIPP Middle Charter School from "F" to "B."
64 schools maintained their grade or received a grade for the first time.
83% of our schools made excellent, good or satisfactory grades.
The following schools improved their letter grades by two: Arlington Elementary (C to A), Brentwood Elementary (F to C), Carter G. Woodson Elementary (C to A), Fishweir Elementary (C to A), George Washington Carver Elementary (D to B), Greenfield Elementary (C to A), North Shore Elementary (D to B), Spring Park Elementary (C to A), Reynolds Lane Elementary (C to A), Venetia Elementary (C to A) and River City Science Charter (C to A).
All of our 21 high schools are still awaiting their grades, which incorporate access to and performance in accelerated coursework, college readiness and graduation rates. High school scores are scheduled to be released late fall.
The number of Duval County Public Schools receiving an "A" or "B" slightly increased.
NOTE: The following video was taken at a press conference prior to the Florida Department of Education's
grade recalculations. The school numbers may not reflect the updates.
