Florida’s Department of Education released on Monday a comprehensive list of 3,078 individual schools ranked on the basis of how well students perform on the state’s standardized Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test. Ranked from best-to-worst schools, today’s ranking comes on the heels of a controversial ranking of school districts last week.
Schools are ranked statewide within the following categories: elementary schools, middle schools, high schools, combination schools that include high school grade levels, and combination schools that do not include high school grades.
In Orange County, schools that stand out are, Avalon Elementary (ranking 7), Arbor Ridge K-9 (ranking 7 in the combination schools) and Orlando Science Middle High Charter (ranking 10). In neighboring Osceola County, Osceola County School for the Arts received a ranking of # 4 and Celebration School was awarded a rank of #6.
Not surprisingly, schools in the less affluent areas were ranked among the worst performers. These included Nap Ford Community Charter (ranking 1790), Rio Grande Charter (ranking 1787) and Kaley Elementary School with a rank of 1771. Several charter schools namely, Life Skills Charter, Chancery High Charter, Aloma High Charter and Northstar High Charter, among others, ranked poorly as well.
In terms of Orange County high schools, Olymnpia High was ranked #53 and Winter Park High received a ranking of #58. Perhaps surprisingly, Dr. Phillips Elementary School received a ranking of 579.
As was the case in the ranking of school districts, some public school officials have been critical of the schools’ ranking, noting that issues such as socio-economic factors and other special circumstances affecting students’ performance are not considered. In turn, they question the value of the ranking of school districts and schools.
It is hardly surprising that districts at the top are among the most affluent districts and counties in the state and those at the bottom, among the least affluent counties, some school officials say. The same holds true for the top performing schools that are found in the more affluent communities and the converse for those at the bottom.
Gov. Rick Scott and Education Commissioner Gerard Robinson said the rankings are a way to justify how taxpayer dollars are being spent.
See Full List of Florida School Rankings Here.
