State releases FCAT scores

Data released today shows East County elementary and middle schools stand mostly as an exception to falling school grades statewide.

Three East County elementary schools and two middle schools received “A” grades, as they did last year.

Those schools are McNeal, Willis and Gene Witt elementary schools and Haile and Nolan middle schools.

Four schools dropped one grade: Braden River, Freedom and B.D. Gullett elementary schools and Braden River Middle School.

Each of those schools saw its grade fall from an “A” to a “B.”

Imagine School at Lakewood Ranch saw its grade unchanged from last year, at a “C.”

Anticipating declining grades, due to harder test standards that began this year as the new Common Core state standards take effect, the state adopted last-minute changes to its school grading formula to ease the fall. Schools could not drop more than one letter grade compared to last year.

Two East County schools —  Bashaw and Tara elementary schools — were protected by the new measure. Both schools saw their grades drop from a “B” to a “C”  this year. FCAT data shows the schools received grade-drop protection.

Grades for high schools are pending.

Statewide, the number of "A" schools dropped from 48% to 29%, while the number of "F" schools increased from 2% to 4%.

Overall, Manatee County had seven more "F" schools this year, while "A" schools dropped by eight.

Contact Josh Siegel at [email protected].