High schools struggle, lower grades do better

With Sebring High School slipping from a C to a D grade, the district's three high schools, all with D grades, continue to be the low point in accountability for the Highlands County School District.

Avon Elementary School made the greatest progress by improving from a C to an A, according to a grade report released Thursday from the Florida Department of Education.

Avon Elementary Assistant Principal Karin Doty said the school's teachers are very dedicated and focused on reading, writing, math and science and used new strategies they learned last summer.

All tested categories improved, but the math learning gains improved the most, she said.

Rounding out the district schools that improved their accountability grade are Fred Wild Elementary went from a C to a B and Lake Placid Middle School went from a B to an A.

School grades are based on a point system where schools are awarded one point for each percent of students who score high on the Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test or make annual learning gains.

Cracker Trail and Sun 'N Lake elementary schools missed an A grade by 1 point.

Along with Avon Elementary, six other schools in Highlands County earned an A grade: Lake Country, Lake Placid and Park Elementary schools and Hill-Gustat, Lake Placid and Sebring Middle Schools.

The district maintained its B grade, which is based on the school grades.

According to the FDOE, the 2009 school grades show that Florida schools experienced their most successful year to date.

Driven by a significant increase in the number of "A" grades, more than three quarters of all public schools are considered to be high performing (receiving either an "A" or "B"), the largest number yet since the inception of school grades.

The results also indicate that the number of schools earning an "F" decreased to its lowest point in three years.

FAST FACTS

School grades are based on a point system where schools are awarded one point for each percent of students who score high on the Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test or make annual learning gains.

Cracker Trail and Sun 'N Lake elementary schools missed an A grade by 1 point.