Florida Panhandle School Districts Improve Student Performance on FCAT Reading Mathematics and Science

Friday, June 6, 2014

DOE Press Office 850-245-0413

Florida Panhandle School Districts Improve Student Performance on FCAT Reading, Mathematics and Science

Tallahassee, Fla., June 6, 2014 - Commissioner of Education Pam Stewart today recognized school districts in Florida's Panhandle for improved student performance on state assessments in reading, mathematics and science.

"I applaud teachers and school leaders for their focus on increasing student academic performance," said Commissioner Stewart. "As we transition to new standards and assessments next year, I am confident students will continue to succeed."

• Bay County improved in four of the seven assessment areas announced today, including a three percentage point increase in both grades 9-10 reading and eighth grade science.
• Escambia County also improved in four of the seven assessment areas announced today, including a three percentage point increase in grades 6-8 reading and eighth grade science.
• Holmes County improved in five of the seven assessment areas announced today. Students in fifth grade moved up 14 percentage points in science, while students in both grades 3-5 and grades 9-10 increased three percentage points in reading.
• Santa Rosa County improved in four of the seven assessment areas announced today, including a four percentage point increase in eighth grade science and a three percentage point increase in grades 6-8 math.
• Walton County improved in five of the seven assessment areas announced today, with a five percentage point increase in both grades 9-10 reading and eighth grade science, and a four percentage point increase in grades 6-8 reading.
• Washington County also improved in five of the seven assessment areas announced today. Students in grades 3-5 math saw an increase of eight percentage points while students in grades 9-10 reading and eighth grade science improved five percentage points.

Overall, statewide student achievement improved in most of the assessment areas released today. Compared to last year, students improved in reading by one percentage point in grades 4, 5, 6, 8 and 10. In math, students improved by two percentage points in grade 4 and one percentage point in grades 5, 6 and 7. For science, students across the state improved two percentage points in grade 8 and one percentage point in grade 5.

Next year, a new assessment based on the Florida Standards will replace the FCAT 2.0. The Florida Standards for mathematics and English language arts stress a broader approach for student learning, including an increased emphasis on analytical thinking. With the new and more rigorous standards, a new assessment was needed to measure student progress.

Florida's recent academic gains have received national attention. The Sunshine State jumped from 11th to 6th in the nation for educational quality in 2013. Florida has the highest graduation rate in the nation for Hispanic students. In the past decade, the number of Florida graduates participating in AP courses has more than doubled, and the number of low-income graduates taking AP courses has increased tenfold. And Florida's graduation rate is 75.6% for 2012-13 - an increase of 1.1 percentage points over the prior year and up five percentage points since 2010-11.

The 2014 FCAT 2.0 Reading, Mathematics and Science results are available at 2014 Statewide Assessment Scores.