VOTE: Should We Get Rid Of The FCAT?
DISCUSS: Do You Think The Grading System Is Fair?

School grades are based on how well a school's students performed on the Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test, which is given in math and reading in grades three through 10 and in writing in grades four, eight and 10.

But FCAT results are looked at in three different ways -- overall performance of all students, year-to-year progress of all students, and year-to-year progress of the weakest readers. There are also additional requirements for schools to earn an A.

Overall FCAT performance
Half the grade is based on overall FCAT achievement. In each of the three subject areas -- reading, math and writing -- a school will earn a point for each percent of students that earn FCAT scores that indicate they are working on grade level or above.

The highest possible score a school could earn is 300 points out of a possible 600 overall. That would be mean all of its students earned FCAT scores indicating they were at grade level in all three subjects.

Learning gains
A third of the grade is based on how many students made "learning gains" over the year before in reading and math. The highest possible score a school could earn is 200 points. That would mean all of a school's students earned an FCAT score indicating they were at grade level in both subjects.

Weakest readers
One-sixth of the grade is based on how the school's worst readers -- those in the lowest quartile of reading scores -- did on the FCAT. A point is awarded for each student who made adequate progress over the year before. The highest possible score is 100 points, which would mean all the students made adequate progress.

Additional requirements to earn an A
At least half the weakest readers must make adequate progress and their gains must be within 10 points of the gains for the entire student body. Also, at least 95 percent of all eligible students must be tested.

Conversion scale
A -- 410 points
B -- 380 points
C -- 320 points
D -- 280 points
F -- Less than 280 points