OCALA, FL (352today.com) – If you’re a parent/guardian of a student in the Alachua County or Marion County area, be sure to give your star pupil a pat on the back for their stellar work this past year.

The Florida Department of Education (FDOE) revealed district and school grades on last week for the 2023-2024 school year.

The results from this year are the first to be calculated using the newly adopted, statewide implemented Florida Assessments of Student Thinking (FAST) test, which incorporates scores from every student into their respective school’s overall grade.

School leaders in Alachua and Marion Counties are calling this past school year a success.

Alachua County

Results from the FDOE showed eight schools in the Alachua County Public School (ACPS) district improved their grades in 2024, with 20 maintaining their grades and six receiving lower grades compared to 2023.

Overall, ACPS maintained its “B” rating, falling just three percentage points short of receiving an “A” for the 2023-2024 school year.

The district is celebrating the performance of some of the county’s highest-needs schools.

Prime examples: Metcalfe Elementary increased its grade from an “F” to a “C” and Newberry Elementary witnessed its grade catapult from a “C” to an “A.”

The district says the jump for Metcalfe Elementary is a massive achievement for more than one reason. It signifies there are no more failing schools in the district of Alachua County.

Schools that had been categorized by the state as School Improvement (SI) schools fared as follows:

  • Lake Forest and Shell Elementary raised their grades from a “D” to a “C”
  • Terwilliger and Idylwild maintained “C” grades
  • Rawlings earned another “D” grade

The improvement in Lake Forest’s grade means the district will not have to hire an outside organization to run Lake Forest for the upcoming school year. According to Jackie Johnson, this is a requirement under Florida law for schools that earn an “F” grade or two consecutive “D” grades and are not able to reach a “C” grade within the required timeframe.

“I’m so pleased by the performance of schools that either increased their grades or held steady despite the change in the grading formula,” said Alachua County Superintendent Shane Andrew. “Obviously, there was a lot of hard work put in by teachers, administrators and staff at the schools. We also appreciate the efforts of the students and families, who stepped up to the challenge of a new testing system.”

The superintendent also celebrated the improvement of students whose test scores are typically the worst.

“We saw some spectacular learning gains during the last school year, particularly among students who tend to struggle most with the state tests,” he said. “Of course there’s always more to do, but we’re certainly trending in a very good direction.”

Marion County

Similarly, Marion County Public Schools (MCPS) are conveying a positive outlook.

Of the district’s 50 schools, 45 maintained or improved their annual grade compared to last year.

Overall, the county says it earned a “C” grade, just one point shy of a “B.”

MCPS says the district showed improvement in nine out of the eleven components when compared to the last time learning gains were calculated after the 2021-2022 school year.

Marion County students overall showed significant increases this year in Learning Gains for Math (44% to 48%).

Even more significant increases were shown in Learning Gains for English Language Arts (47% to 54%) and Lowest Quartile Learning Gains in English Language Arts (38% to 52%) and Math (43% to 53%), which are at the highest levels since 2016.

A total of five Marion County schools maintained their “A” level rating, including:

  • Dr. N.H. Jones Elementary
  • Eighth Street Elementary
  • Ina A. Colen Academy
  • Madison Street Academy
  • Ward-Highlands Elementary

In addition, seven Marion County public schools increased their rankings at least one letter grade:

  • Hammett Bowen Jr. Elementary (A)
  • Greenway Elementary (B)
  • Harbour View Elementary (C)
  • Howard Middle (B)
  • Marion Charter School (B)
  • Reddick-Collier Elementary (C)
  • Sparr Elementary (B)
  • Wyomina Park Elementary (C)

Results from the FDOE showed only one Marion County public school earned a “D” grade, an improvement from three schools in 2022-2023.

You can see the full report for all schools in the state at the FDOE website.