The Florida Department of Education gave Orange County its second consecutive A district grade, accompanying the release of individual school grades. More schools than ever in the history of FCAT testing were graded A or B in Orange County Public Schools.
OCPS has 114 As and 27 Bs representing 82 percent of the schools in the district. On average, only 78 percent of schools statewide are graded A or B.
For the first time ever, Orange has no F-rated schools at any level, not counting one alternative school. Mollie Ray Elementary School catapulted to a grade of A from F in just one year. In a Florida Department of Education news release Thursday, Governor Charlie Crist said, “As these grades show, our students and their teachers have done an incredible job this year, particularly in Central Florida.”
Mollie Ray Principal Kathryn Shuler said, “A school goes from F to an A in one year with teamwork. Our teachers, staff, students, parents and volunteers all contributed to this eventful day. In addition, during the school year, we learned that many of our students had vision problems and needed glasses. Once we tested students and they received glasses they were much more eager to learn and obviously did very well on FCAT.”
Three high schools jumped from a D to a B. All three are on Newsweek’s list of the most academically rigorous high schools in the country. They are Cypress Creek, University and Freedom high schools.
More than 10 percent of Orange County schools (18) jumped two or more grades.
For 11 years, Bay Meadows, Shenandoah and Palm Lake elementary schools have scored and kept an A grade.
For more information, contact: Dr. Lee Baldwin/Sr. Director, Accountability, Research and Assessment. # 407-317-3201
