East County school grades drop

The Florida Department of Education today released preliminary school grades.

Only five Manatee County schools earned an “A” grade, including McNeal, Willis and Anna Maria elementary schools, Nolan Middle School and State College of Florida Collegiate School.

In East County, six schools maintained their grades (Bashaw, Tara, McNeal, and Willis elementaries; and Braden River and Nolan middles), but all others went down by one letter grade.

In East County, preliminary grades are:

Elementary:

Bashaw: C

Braden River Elementary: B

Freedom: C

Gullett: B

McNeal: A 

Tara: B

Willis: A

Gene Witt: B

Middle: 

Braden River: B

Haile: B

Nolan: A

High:

Braden River: B

Lakewood Ranch: B

Charter:

Imagine School at Lakewood Ranch: B