Manatee schools show academic improvement

Manatee County schools are improving academically, according to data released by the Florida Department of Education.

The department on June 28 announced the Manatee County School District had improved to an overall “B” grade compared with last year’s “C.”

Highlights from the grade release show 80% of Manatee District schools received average or above-average scores.

The number of “A”-ranked schools nearly tripled in one year, from five in 2015 to 14 in 2016.

East County schools made top grades with Braden River, Gullett, McNeal, Tara, Willis and Witt elementary schools, Nolan Middle, and Lakewood Ranch High all earning “A” grades.

Haile Middle, Braden River High and Imagine Charter at Lakewood Ranch earned “B” grades, while Bashaw, Freedom and Braden River Middle earned “C” grades.

Three schools — Harllee Middle, Visible Men Academy and Tillman Elementary — improved from “F” grades to “C” and “B” grades.

“I’m very proud of our students, teachers, faculty and administrators for their accomplishments,” Superintendent Dr. Diana Greene said in a press release. “This is a win for the entire community. It takes all of us working together to improve the lives and education of our children.”

Greene said more work still is needed.