School grades to be released at about 11 a.m. today
Last Modified: Monday, December 6, 2010 at 11:39 p.m.
(Update at 10:30 a.m.) Florida Department of Education grades for Alachua County schools are expected to be available at about 11 a.m. Tuesday.
State to release high school grades
(Original article) High school grades will be released today, according to the state Department of Education, delayed in part by late FCAT scores and a new formula.
In the past, grades have been solely determined by FCAT scores and achievement grades. This year, the test counts for half of the school's grade.
The other half includes the graduation rate, performance and participation in rigorous courses such as International Baccalaureate and Advanced Placement, and overall college preparedness.
“This new formula is giving schools such a better snapshot of where they're at,” said Ben Wolf, deputy press secretary for the DOE.
Administrators and the public should expect the high school grades to be announced separately from elementary and middle schools in the future due to the wait for test scores, Wolf said.
Eastside High School Principal Jeff Charbonnet said the school is eagerly awaiting the new grades, slated to be announced at 10 a.m.
“All the data we've seen indicate that we'll be very happy with our grade,” he said.
Charbonnet said struggling students made gains, and the graduation rate went up 4 percentage points.
“We've worked very hard in the past three years to increase our AP program and we know that will be reflected well,” he said.
The new formula could be problematic for smaller schools that don't have enough students to offer several advanced classes, said Sandy Hollinger, deputy superintendent for instruction and student services.
“At small schools, for instance Hawthorne (Middle and High School), we can only offer one or two (courses),” she said. “We could offer more, but there just aren't students” to take the classes.
The school district's grade likely will be affected negatively by career and technology magnet programs that focus on job readiness, like that of Professional Academies Magnet at Loften, Hollinger said.
Contact Jackie Alexander at 338-3108
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