School grades show improvement for a majority of district’s ‘School Improvement’ schools
Press release from Alachua County Public Schools
Updated at 4:20 p.m. with school grade tables.
ALACHUA COUNTY, Fla. – A majority of the local elementary schools currently in ‘School Improvement’ or SI/turnaround status boosted their grades this year, according to a report released this morning by the Florida Department of Education.
Alachua (D to a C), Idylwild (D to a C), Terwilliger (D to a C), and Lake Forest (F to a D) elementary schools all increased their grades under the state’s revised accountability system, which this year was based on new tests and new cut scores for those tests. In fact, the state is referring to this year’s grades as “informational baseline” grades.
Two other SI schools (Shell and Rawlings) maintained their grades, while Metcalfe fell from a D to an F. However, that grade will not affect Metcalfe’s current SI status.
Because of the testing changes, the new grading system for this year does not reflect student gains (changes from year to year), which are typically a significant element of school grades.
“No negative consequences shall result from these grades, as they are purely informational,” said the state’s senior chancellor of the Florida Department of Education Adam Miller in an email to Florida’s superintendents. “However, a school may receive the benefits of these grades, in terms of qualifying for School Recognition and/or exiting turnaround status.” (Schools quality for School Recogition by increasing their overall grade or maintaining an A grade.)
Alachua, Idylwild, and Terwilliger will all move out of SI status as a result of the new grades, while Lake Forest will have an opportunity to move out based on its 2024 grade.
“It’s important to recognize the hard work and commitment of school leaders, faculty, staff, families, district personnel, our community partners, and everyone involved in our schools,’ said Superintendent Shane Andrew. “This was a team effort, and we look forward to continued improvement at all our schools.”
Overall, 11 ACPS schools boosted their grades this year, four dropped, and 20 remained the same, with 22 earning either an A or B grade. The district’s overall informational baseline grade for 2023 is a B.
Okay, some ups & downs. As a retired teacher, from another county, both of my kids teacher ACPS elementary grades & my grandchild is a middle school student. The three of them are working so hard–eat, sleep, live school–that’s their life. AND it takes a lot of dedication with so many required computerized tests. I just wonder how the youngest populations handle it all.
I am very concerned about child development & developmental stages. How do we “pay” in the long run?????
I commend their commitment to excelling in their educational endeavors and it’s likely that dedication will lead them in their future years.
That being said, I haven’t come across many who eat, sleep and live school. Whether it’s a blessing or a curse won’t be known for some time but at least they’re striving to be the best they can be.
Kudos to you and their parents, as well as other parents, who encourage and promote educational achievements.
You mentioned something in closing that bears pointing out – your concern for child development and developmental years. Makes it easier to understand recently passed legislation for parents to be made aware of some attributes that may be occuring in some schools.
Seems a small price to “pay” for parents to protect their children from potentially unwanted influences on our most precious resource.