Over half of Florida’s public schools received an “A” or “B” letter grade for the 2016-2017 school year, according to a new report released Wednesday from the Florida Department of Education.
This year’s letter grades represent a slight uptick in the number of “A” and “B” letter grades, up from 46 percent last year.
School grades are calculated on 11 components, including student achievements, learning gains on statewide tests and high school graduation rates.
According to the report, 30 percent of Florida’s elementary schools earned an “A” letter grade, up from 21 percent in 2015-2016.
When it came to low-performing schools, the majority of Florida’s failing schools saw slight improvements, with 79 percent of schools earning an “F” letter grade last year improving by at least one letter grade during the 2016-2017 academic year.
The report also found 71 percent of the low-performing schools for which turnaround plans were presented before the State Board of Education in July 2016 improved to a C or greater.
Some districts saw historic achievements during the same time -- for the first time in history, no schools in Miami-Dade received an “F” letter grade. On top of that, the state’s largest school district saw a higher number of “A’s,” “ABs,” and “ABCs” than Florida.
Miami-Dade Superintendent called the moment “inevitable,” praising employees of the school system for the historic accomplishment.
“This is my proudest moments as Superintendent,” wrote Carvalo Wednesday. “I am so honored to share this celebration with students, teachers, principals, administrators, parents, community partners and all those who have worked tirelessly to achieve this incredible accomplishment.”
State officials lauded the news, saying the Sunshine State was making great strides in public education.
“Today’s announcement is further evidence that Florida’s accountability system is integral to ensuring all students have access to the high-quality education they deserve,” said Commissioner of Education Pam Stewart. “ It is particularly important in identifying low-performing schools that need additional assistance to help their students reach their full potential.”
Gov. Rick Scott agreed.
“Every student in Florida deserves the same opportunity. Floridians should be proud of the continuous improvement of our K-12 schools,” he said. “I am thankful for the dedicated teachers, students and parents who work every day to advance education in our schools.”
To view the full report, click here.
Reach reporter Allison Nielsen by email at allison@sunshinestatenews.com or follow her on Twitter: @AllisonNielsen.
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