PANAMA CITY — Bay District Schools’ preliminary grade for the 2013-2014 school year matched last year’s rating, but a dip in scores for two elementary schools will end up costing the county as much as $500,000.
Although high school figures are still pending, it appears Bay District Schools maintained a C grade-level, according to preliminary elementary, middle and middle/elementary school grades released Friday by the Florida Department of Education. The overall district score has descended steadily since the 2011 school year, when it was an A.
“Three years ago when the standards changed we anticipated we were going to drop,” said Bay District Schools Superintendent Bill Husfelt. “The bar was raised, and we’ve got issues and problems we need to work on to reach that bar.”
Click here for preliminary school grades
Click here for preliminary district grades
Eight schools received a score of A, three received a B, five got a C, 10 received a D and four schools dipped down to a score of F, according to the preliminary reports.
Elementary writing scores were abnormally low; however, the lowest performing students in the district improved this year.
Bay Haven Charter Academy Middle School received the highest score in Bay County, with a 697 and 100 percent of the student body tested. That translates to an A letter grade. On the low end, Lucille Moore and Oakland Terrace elementary schools scored the lowest in the county, with 307 and 350, respectively, for an F grade.
Those two schools are among the 300 worst performing schools in the state and will have to take an extra hour of classes in the coming year, as required by state laws. (State's 300 lowest-performing schools)
However, the state did not put funds in place for districts struggling to make the grade, and that will cost Bay County significantly — between $300,000 and $500,000.
“They went in with good intentions and just didn’t put in the funds,” Husfelt said. “But we’re going to get back to the drawing board and figure it out.”
This year marks the final year for Florida’s current A-to-F grading system, which has been in place since 1999. A new state standardized exam also is being developed to align with the new Florida standards, also known as the Common Core, a series of uniform academic benchmarks.
Under a special provision, no school will drop more than a grade level this year. The controversial rule was adopted after complaints the current system had become too complicated.
Some 192 schools benefited from the safety net, compared to 552 last year, according to the data.
Officials have said the new grading metrics will be more simple and transparent.
“Its focus on student achievement and gains will help ensure a fair accountability system that helps measure student knowledge of the new Florida Standards,” Education Commissioner Pamela Stewart said.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Below is an earlier version of this report:
TALLAHASSEE (AP) — More Florida elementary and middle schools earned a preliminary "A’' on their annual 2014 school grades, state Department of Education officials said Friday.
The number earning an “F,” however, increased as well.
Overall, 962 elementary and middle schools earned the state's top grade, a seven percent increase, the department said.
This year marks the final year for Florida's current A-to-F grading system, which has been in place since 1999. A new state standardized exam is also being developed to align with the new Florida Standards, also known as the Common Core, a series of uniform academic benchmarks.
Under a special provision, no school will drop more than a grade level in 2014. The controversial rule was adopted after complaints the current system had become too complicated.
Some 192 schools benefited from the safety net, compared to 552 last year, according to the data.
Officials have said the new grading metrics will be more simple and transparent.
“Its focus on student achievement and gains will help ensure a fair accountability system that helps measure student knowledge of the new Florida Standards,” Education Commissioner Pamela Stewart said.
The current system determines grades based on test results for elementary and middle schools, and test scores, graduation rate and college readiness for high school. Schools get more points if higher numbers of their students take college-level courses and do well on tests like the SAT.
Hillsborough County saw biggest increase in the numbers of schools earning an “A.” Thirty-six elementary and middle schools earned an "A’' in the 2013-14 school year, a 45 percent increase. Miami-Dade also saw a sizable jump, with 30 additional schools earning the top grade, a 43 percent rise.