More Broward High Schools Get "A" Grade
TALLAHASSEE (CBS4) - Broward high school students and teachers were probably high fiving each other in the hallways Tuesday morning.
The Florida Department of Education released its grades for high schools throughout the state and Broward's showed significant improvement.
In fact, Broward exceeded the state average (70.5%) with nearly 75 percent (73.6%) of traditional high schools receiving an A or B grade and 100 percent of traditional high schools receiving an A, B or C grade.
According to the county's school district, all seven high schools which had D grades last year received a C or better grade this year. Schools with multiple grade improvement include Dillard from a D to a B; Coral Springs from a D to an A, South Plantation from a D to an A; and Western from a C to an A.
Overall, 17 high schools increased at least one grade level.
Miami-Dade public school officials were not releasing their figures until Tuesday afternoon.
This year the high school grades were based on more than the Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test (FCAT) thanks to the 2008 Legislature which mandated that other factors be in the mix, including graduation rates and participation and passage on Advanced Placement exams. This year FCAT scores only accounted for 50 percent of the grade; other factors counted for the rest.
"We have continued the emphasis on high rigor for all high schools as evidenced by the Advanced Placement course enrollment five-year increase of 99 percent, including an increase of 148 percent for African American students and an increase of 154 percent for Hispanic students, and our high school graduation rates; in particular, the significant Black male increases and male increases," said Broward Schools Superintendent James F. Notter in a written statement.
Across the state, Florida's public high schools showed a significant improvement in the 2009-2010 school year thanks in part to the new grading system.
Of the 470 high schools graded, 140 earned an "A" which was an increase of 46 schools compared to last year. High schools were received a "B" totaled 192, an increase of 81 schools from last year.
This year 69 schools received a "C" grade which was a decrease of 54 schools compared to last year. Fifty eight schools received a "D", a decrease of 62 schools compared to last year. As for schools that failed with an "F" there were only 11, compared to 23 schools which received an "F" last year.
"These are terrific results for our high schools, providing very clear evidence that they have stepped up their efforts to offer demanding coursework for their students and graduate more of them prepared for college or a career," said Education Commissioner Dr. Eric J. Smith. "I'm extremely proud of Florida's high school teachers, administrators and support staff for what they have accomplished and I'm confident that they are already looking ahead at how to accelerate this progress and make every academic measure at their school a success."
