By Matt Wiley
Just weeks after final Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test (FCAT) 2.0 scores were released — and in the shadow of big changes for the state’s comprehensive testing and school accountability system — the Florida Department of Education (FDOE) has released preliminary 2014 school grades for non-high schools, and New Tampa’s schools have stolen the show.
According to the FDOE report released on July 11, eight of New Tampa’s ten non-high schools earned the prestigious ‘A’ grade this year, with the other two schools earning a ‘B.’
Congratulations to Benito, Bartels and Liberty middle schools, as well as Chiles, Clark, Pride, Tampa Palms and Turner elementary schools for each earning an ‘A.’ In addition, Heritage and Hunter’s Green Elementary (HGE) schools each earned a ‘B,’ the latter of which was up from a ‘C’ grade last school year. HGE is one of 60 schools across the District that performed well enough to improve by a letter grade.
A press release from the Hillsborough County School District (HCSD-which received a ‘B’ grade overall) states that 63 elementary schools received ‘A’ grades, up from 40 the previous year, while 20 middle schools also received top marks, 14 more than last school year.
“We know that our students and teachers have been working hard this year, and it’s great to finish the school year and get these kinds of results,’’ said superintendent MaryEllen Elia in the release. “During this transitional time, it’s gratifying to see our students performing at such high levels. Our students, teachers, principals and parents should be very proud.”
New Tampa’s high grades come as the state prepares to transition to the new “Florida Standards,” which will be implemented this coming (2014-15) school year and are to be much more rigorous in English language arts, writing and mathematics to keep up with the new, nationally-recognized “Common Core” standards.
Liberty principal James Ammirati says that he was excited to see his school’s ‘A,’ when the report was released in July.
“It’s always gratifying to see the accomplishments of our students,” Ammirati says. “You see their accomplishments all year long, but the grade really solidifies it.”
Ammirati attributes Liberty’s heavily involved Parent Teacher Student Association (PTSA), engaged students, dedicated teachers and the support of students’ parents to keeping the top grade.
“The ‘A’ grade is a testament to the hard work all year long of our teachers, staff and student body,” Ammirati says.
School Grades Rubric
Based partly upon the FCAT, elementary school grades are measured using an 800-point scale for elementaries (900 points for middle schools). The grades also take into account End-of-Course (EoC) test scores, which are given in middle and high schools in a variety of subjects, and the Florida Alternate Assessment (FAA), an alternative test for students who are unable to complete the FCAT test due to cognitive or learning disabilities.
Points are given for students who score “satisfactory” or higher and/or make learning gains. A point is awarded for each percent of the school’s students who score satisfactory or better in each subject area of each test.
For example, students who score a level 3 or higher on the math, reading and science FCAT 2.0 tests, and/or a level 4 on EoC tests, and a 3.5 or higher on FCAT writing, the percentage of students that achieve that level in each subject is the point value that the school is given. To earn an “A,” at least 95 percent of the school’s students must have been tested and at least 595 points must have been earned by those students.
To determine learning gains, test scores for students in each subject on FCAT, EoC and FAA tests are examined by comparing those scores with those from the previous year. If students perform at the same level or improve on their achievement level, the school also earns points for that percentage of students.
For more information, please visit FLDOE.org and click on the “School Grades” tab.
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