Central Florida schools release report cards, more A grades, state says

ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. — The Florida Department of Education released on Wednesday all elementary, middle and high school grades for the state.

State officials said schools saw a significant improvement compared to last year.

The state said the percentage of schools that earned an “A” or “B” increased to 57 percent. Elementary schools saw the largest increase in “A” schools with 30 percent, up from 21 percent last year, state officials said.  A total of 1,589 schools maintained an “A” grade and the number of “F” schools dropped 61 percent.

The Florida Department of Education determines school grades by looking at 11 key factors, including student achievement and learning gains on statewide assessment tests and graduation rates.

Orange County School District:

Orange County School Superintendent Barbara Jenkins said in a news release: “Orange County Public Schools is proud to celebrate the hard work of our children, teachers, and principals every single day. It has become clear to our community that each school’s progress cannot be represented by a single assigned letter grade. We remain extremely proud of the additional positive indicators, which confirm that with the support of families and community, we are leading our students to success. We commend our schools that have performed well under the current state system.”

Carver Middle School earned an "F" grade last year, but bumped up to a "C" grade this year. District officials offered new hires a $20,000 bonus to teach at the school next year.

Read: Hundreds apply for positions at F-rated Carver Middle School

Seminole County School District:

An official with the Seminole County School District praised the top A-rated schools.

"A lot of hard, focused work has yielded great results for our students and schools.  Our amazing teachers continue to stay focused on the Florida standards while delivering high quality instruction.  These data results are reflected in Seminole County students continuing to score at the highest levels on national and state metrics.  Kudos to our teachers, students and administrators for providing a quality, personalized education for every student" - Dr. Walt Griffin, Supertendent, SCPS

Lake County School District:

Lake County schools improved from a "C" school district last year to a "B" school district this year. School officials said the number of "A" schools also doubled compared to last year.

"I am proud of the hard work and evidence of student learning gains," said Superintendent Diane Kornegay. "I applaud the work of the previous administration and I am excited that we are well on our way to becoming a destination school district."

Flagler County School District:

For the sixth year in a row, Flagler Schools remained a “B” rated district.

James Tager, Superintendent of schools said in a statement, “The fact that our scores rose in all measurables when compared to last year is a testament to the hard work our students, teachers, staff, and administrators. And while we celebrate the achievements, we also know we have room for improvement in many areas. In the coming days and weeks, we will look deeper into these numbers and identify ways we can make this an ‘A’ District once again.”

Volusia County School District:

Volusia County schools maintained a "B" rated district and 56 percent of the schools are rated "A" or "B," a 16 percent increase from last year.

"As a district, we have made a concerted effort to make instructional shifts that are essential to teach students at the rigor of the standards.  Our students and teachers rose to the occasion to meet the demands of these rigorous tests," stated superintendent Tom Russell. "We are very happy that Volusia maintained a B district grade and are making progress toward our goal of an A district."

Osceola County School District:

The Osceola County School District said 89 percent of its schools maintained or showed an increase in school grades.

“The increases in school grades reflect a great deal of hard work put in each and every day by teachers, students, and our entire school community,” said Osceola County School Board Chairman Kelvin Soto, Esq.  “The movement of our district letter grade to a 'B' is a testament to the true dedication and commitment to our journey from good to great."

Eyewitness News will update this story with school grades and district responses as they become available.

Cox Media Group