North Central Florida School Districts Improve Student Performance on FCAT Reading Mathematics and Science
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North Central Florida 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 North Central Florida 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."
- Alachua County improved in three of the seven assessment areas announced today, led by a six percentage point increase in grades 6-8 math and a three percentage point increase in grades 9-10 reading.
- Bradford County improved in six of the seven assessment areas announced today. This includes a seven percentage point jump in eighth grade science and a six percentage point increase in grades 6-8 reading.
- Union County improved in five of the seven assessment areas announced today, soaring 10 percentage points in fifth grade science, nine percentage points in grades 9-10 reading, and eight percentage points in eighth grade science.
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.