Sarasota County one of only two in the state to get an A every year since grading began
The Sarasota County School District is one of only three in Florida to receive an A grade for the 2015-16 school year, “despite higher state expectations,” a Sarasota District news release says.
In addition, Sarasota is one of only two of the state’s 67 districts to receive an A every year since grading began in 2004, the release points out.
School and district grades were released July 8 by the Florida Department of Education.
Statewide, the number of A schools declined from 1,184 in 2014-15 to 741 in 2015-16, the release continues, “while the number of C, D and F schools increased substantially.”
In Sarasota County, 76 percent of all district schools earned an A or B, while 24 percent received a C. Twenty-two of the district’s 50 graded schools earned an A, 16 were graded B and 12 received a C. No Sarasota County school earned a D or F, the release points out, adding, “The numbers include traditional public schools and charter schools.”
“The school grade calculation was revised substantially for the 2015-16 school year,” the release explains. Student achievement on the Florida Standards Assessments (FSA) — which include end-of-course exams in middle and high schools — “is a major component of school grades,” the release notes. “Middle and high school grades also include an acceleration component based on the achievement of students in high school and advanced coursework,” the release says. High school grades are partially based on the schools’ graduation rates the prior year, the release adds.
School districts are graded on 11 components, including FSA results in English language arts, math and science.
More information, including all school and district grades statewide for 2015-16 and previous school years, is at www.schoolgrades.fldoe.org.