2015 school grades show slight improvement

Alachua, Clay, Nassau, St. Johns and Union school districts receive A grades

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Preliminary school grades largely based on much-criticized new standardized tests given almost a year ago were released Friday. About a hundred schools in Northeast Florida earned an A grade on the new test, but dozens also received F's.

The Florida Department of Education began using the The Florida Standards Assessment last year, which is based primarily on a modification of Common Core standards. Locally, there were more A schools than last year, but nearly the same number of schools was given an F grade.

In Duval County, there were nine more A schools than the previous year, 12 more B schools, and fewer C, D and F schools -- although 21 still were given a failing grade. Overall, the Duval County school district's grade went up from a C to a B.

Among school districts in the area, Alachua, Clay, Nassau, St. Johns and Union counties received an A grade. Duval and others received a B, with the exception of Bradford and Putnam, which were graded C. (View spreadsheet with more detail)

"You look at where we were and where we are; there's a lot of optimism as far as school grades are concerned," Duval County School Superintendent Nikoli Vitti said.

Statewide, out of 3,219 schools graded, 1,169 schools received A grades and 642 were given a B. A total of 184 schools earned an F grade while 365 schools were given a D. Some 859 schools got a C grade.

Initial reaction to the school grades was positive.

"This is wonderful news. Our graduation rate is the highest in history and now Clay is an 'A' district under the new grading model," Clay County School Superintendent Charlie Van Zant said. "This is a reflection of the hard work and dedication of the teachers, support employees and administrators throughout Clay."

The grades were delayed because the state had to come up with passing scores for the new test. School superintendents wanted to pause school grades for this year based on the troubled rollout of the new test last spring.

Duval County had 41 A-rated schools in 2014-15 and 21 that received an F.

Both Thomas Jefferson Elementary and Central Riverside Elementary got C's last year and improved to an A in 2015.

"(It took) a lot of committment, dedication from both teachers and students, as well as administration," Central Riverside principal Dinah Stewart said.

Parents of her students agree.

"I know with me and my boys, I work really hard with them at home," Cassandra McCoy said.

"The children love it," said Melva Williams, grandparent of a Central Riverside student.

"(It took) a lot of committment, dedication from both teachers and students, as well as administration," Central Riverside principal Dinah Stewart said.

Vitti also says 40 percent of charter schools in Duval County received a D or F last year.

Those schools aren't operated by the county, but the superintendent said if performance at those schools doesn't improve, they may be shut down.

The Jacksonville schools rating as failing were:

  • Brentwood Elementary
  • Annie R. Morgan Elementary
  • Arlington Elementary
  • John Love Elementary
  • Eugene Butler Middle School
  • Long Branch Elementary
  • Sadie T. Tillis Elementary
  • Somerset Eagle High
  • West Jacksonville Elementary
  • Matthew W. Gilbert Middle
  • Richard L. Brown Elementary
  • Smart Pope Livingston Elementary
  • George Washington Carver Elementary
  • Rufus Payne Elementary
  • J.E.B. Stuart Middle
  • Oak Hill Elementary
  • Southside Middle
  • Hyde Grove Elementary
  • Jefferson Davis Middle
  • Highlands Middle
  • Valor Academy of Leadership High

See spreadsheet of individual grades of every Northeast Florida school

St. Paul School of Excellence, a charter elementary school, was the only school in St. Johns County to get a filing grade.

Clay County also had one F school: Florida Youth Challenge Academy, a residential military academy for at-risk youth located at Camp Blanding.