Brevard Schools Maintain ‘A’ Rank With Tougher Standards
By Space Coast Daily // July 17, 2012
One of 14 Top Districts For Past Year
BREVARD COUNTY • VIERA, FLORIDA – Among 67 districts in Florida, Brevard Public Schools was ranked eighth overall for the school year 2011-2012, according to statistics released by the Florida Department of Education.
The rankings are the next step in the Florida Department of Education’s continuing effort to provide clear, transparent metrics to help parents of school-age children, educators, and taxpayers in Florida evaluate their school districts, according to Florida Education Commissioner Gerald Robinson.
“I am confident that our state is on the right path to providing world-class education to our students.” Florida Education Commissioner Gerald Robinson
“Florida is a national leader in education and the results of this study clearly show the incredible accomplishments of our learners,” said Education Commissioner Gerard Robinson. “I applaud the diligent work of our students and teachers and I am confident that our state is on the right path to providing world-class education to our students.”
The numerical ranking is based on each district’s total points derived from FCAT scores.
Districts are awarded one point for each percent of students in the district who were enrolled for the full year who score on grade level or higher on the FCAT and make annual learning gains (800 possible points).
The total is the sum of the percent of students scoring at Level 3 or higher for FCAT Reading, Mathematics, and Science; scoring at Level 4 or higher on the FCAT Writing essay; the percent of students who made learning gains in reading and mathematics; and for the percent of the lowest 25 percent of students who made learning gains in reading and mathematics.
Elite Districts
By maintaining its status as an “A” district, Brevard was one of an elite group of 14 districts that retained the top “A” grade from the 2010-2011 school year.
For the year, 38 Brevard Public Schools elementary schools received an A, 16 received a B, two received a C, and 1 received a D.
Six Brevard middle schools received an A, five received a B and one received a C.
With the inclusion of additional non-assessment measures in the calculation of high school grades, Florida high school grades are not expected to be announced until this fall.
Out of 1811 elementary schools statewide, Brevard posted three of the top 10 elementary schools based on points earned for the school grade:
Freedom 7 Elementary School of International Studies was ranked second in the state; while Robert Louis Stevenson School of the Arts was eighth and West Melbourne Elementary School for Science for 10th.
Giving Credit
“Through the combined efforts of students, parents and staff, our schools were able to maintain a high degree of success despite changes to cut scores and the tests themselves that brought much greater challenge,” said Brevard Superintendent of Schools Dr. Brian Biinggeli. “We are particularly proud of what appear to be reasonably large increases in student-learning gain elements that are designed to measure student year-to-year growth.”
School grades for elementary and middle schools are based on student performance on the FCAT, which assesses student understanding of the Florida Sunshine State Standards in reading, math, writing and science.
Schools earn points based on student results. Beginning this year, middle school grades also include the results of the new Algebra I end-of-course exam.
Grading
For 2011-2012, elementary grades were based on the following point scale: 525+ points equals an A; 495-524 points equals a B; 435-494 points equals a C; 395-434 points equals a D; anything less than 395 equals an F.
“We are particularly proud of what appear to be reasonably large increases in student-learning gain elements that are designed to measure student year-to-year growth.” Dr. Brian Binggelli, Brevard Public Schools superintendent
Middle school grades were based on the following scale: 590+ points equals an A; 560-589 points equals a B; 490-559 points equals a C; 445-489 equals a D.
The state’s school grades are now being calculated using more rigorous standards and new achievement levels.
Even with these new standards, 46 Brevard schools maintained an A or B, with 21 dropping one letter grade from the 2010-2011 school year.
Across the state, 43 percent of Florida schools received an A; 26 percent received a B; 20 percent received a C; 9 percent received a D and 2 percent were rated as F.
Brevard Public Schools surpassed those state averages with 64 percent of local schools receiving an A; 30 percent receiving a B, 5 percent receiving a C; and 1 percent receiving a D.
