Schools

School Grades Reported, Family Income Is a Factor

The Florida Department of Education has released school grades for 2011-12. For low-graded schools, a critical mass of students from low-income families, as expected, is a factor. Here's more data to digest for fan and foe of standardized testing.

 

In a year of changing standards against which school grades are determined, the Hillsborough County School District came out ahead, with more than 59 percent of elementary and middle schools receiving a grade of "A" or "B."

That includes, in the Greater Brandon and Plant City area, an "A" grade for Brooker, Buckhorn, Limona, Lincoln, Mintz, Seffner, Symmes and Walden Lake elementary schools. Throw in the Bloomingdale, FishHawk and related Riverview area, and there were A's recorded also at Alafia, Bevis, Boyette Springs, Cimino, FishHawk Creek, Lithia Springs and Stowers elementary schools.

Find out what's happening in Brandonwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

At the middle school level in Eastern Hillsborough County, an "A" grade was registered at Barrington, Burns, Mulrennan and Randall middle schools.  

High school grades are not expected to be released until the fall.

Find out what's happening in Brandonwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

As is expected with standardized tests, schools with a much smaller number of students from low-income families are more likely to score the highest grades.

To wit, of the 55 elementary schools with “A" grades, only 12 had a free or reduced-price lunch rate of 60 or higher, including Seffner, Mango and Lincoln elementary schools. Lincoln, in Plant City, is a magnet school for international studies.

At the middle school level, no school with a free or reduced-price lunch rate over 50 had an “A” grade. No school with a rate over 75 scored higher than a “C.”

Overall, the school grades issued by the Florida Department of Education were enough to give Hillsborough County School Superintendent MaryEllen Elia reason to be thankful.

"Many of our schools are celebrating today," said Elia, in a report on the grades, released with the grades on July 11.

"We knew that the raised standards would have an impact. Despite the fact that we are in a transition year, most of our schools earned A or B, half of our schools maintained their grade, and several improved their grade. That's a direct result of the hard work of our students and teachers."

Quoted in the release is Florida Education Commissioner Gerard Robinson, who agreed to record a phone message for Hillsborough County Public Schools, putting the new standards and school grades in perspective. In an open letter to parents concerning the expected impact the raised standards, Robinson had this to say:

As grades for elementary, middle and many combination schools become available you may notice that some schools have lower grades than last year. That does not necessarily mean that the schools, teachers or students are not doing as well as they were before. There were a number of changes to the state’s accountability system this year that impacted the results.

School grades are based on a number of factors, including FCAT scores and end-of-year assessments. State officials had warned parents throughout Florida that they might see a number of schools drop in letter grades due to new standards.

  • Do the grades matter to you? How would you grade your child's school? Is Florida's system of accountability a fair way of ranking schools one against the other? Let us know in the comment box below.

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ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS RANKED BY FREE OR REDUCED LUNCH RATE

ELEMENTARY SCHOOL NAME Free or Reduced Lunch Rate Minority Rate Title I Grade 2012 Grade 2011 Grade 2010 Grade 2009 BEVIS ELEMENTARY SCHOOL 9 22 NO A A A A BRYANT ELEMENTARY SCHOOL 9 30 NO A A A A MCKITRICK ELEMENTARY SCHOOL 9 29 NO A A A A GORRIE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL 11 30 NO A A A A FISHHAWK CREEK ELEMENTARY SCHOOL 12 25 NO A A A A ROOSEVELT ELEMENTARY SCHOOL 12 20 NO A A A A WESTCHASE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL 13 29 NO A A A A MABRY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL 14 21 NO A A A A HAMMOND ELEMENTARY SCHOOL 17 30 NO A A A A LITHIA SPRINGS ELEMENTARY SCHOOL 19 27 NO A A A A PRIDE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL 21 57 NO A A A A TINKER ELEMENTARY SCHOOL 21 50 NO A B A A DEER PARK ELEMENTARY 23 41 NO A A A A TURNER ELEMENTARY SCHOOL 25 56 NO A A A A CIMINO ELEMENTARY SCHOOL 28 36 NO A A A A ALAFIA ELEMENTARY SCHOOL 29 37 NO A A A A MITCHELL ELEMENTARY SCHOOL 30 39 NO A B A A STOWERS ELEMENTARY SCHOOL 32 39 NO A A A   APOLLO BEACH ELEMENTARY SCHOOL 33 22 NO A B B A MACFARLANE PARK ELEMENTARY MAGNET SCHOOL 34 65 NO A A A A CHILES ELEMENTARY SCHOOL 34 59 NO A A A A BALLAST POINT ELEMENTARY SCHOOL 35 40 NO A A A A BUCKHORN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL 36 37 NO A A A A LOWRY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL 36 52 NO A A A A SCHWARZKOPF ELEMENTARY SCHOOL 36 42 NO A A A A LUTZ ELEMENTARY SCHOOL 37 33 NO A A A A NORTHWEST ELEMENTARY SCHOOL 38 46 NO A A A A COLLINS ELEMENTARY SCHOOL 40 58 NO A A A A CLARK ELEMENTARY SCHOOL 40 68 NO A A A A TAMPA PALMS ELEMENTARY SCHOOL 40 59 NO A A A A CARROLLWOOD ELEMENTARY SCHOOL 42 48 NO A A A A RAMPELLO K-8 MAGNET SCHOOL 42 67 NO A A A A BROOKER ELEMENTARY SCHOOL 43 40 NO A A B A CLAYWELL ELEMENTARY SCHOOL 43 49 NO A A A A GRADY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL 43 42 NO A A A A SYMMES ELEMENTARY SCHOOL 43 52 NO A A A A BOYETTE SPRINGS ELEMENTARY SCHOOL 45 38 NO A B A A WALDEN LAKE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL 45 39 NO A A A A LIMONA ELEMENTARY SCHOOL 47 57 NO A A A A CITRUS PARK ELEMENTARY SCHOOL 49 56 NO B B A B ESSRIG ELEMENTARY SCHOOL 50 62 NO B A A A HUNTER'S GREEN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL 50 64 NO B A A A HERITAGE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL 51 69 NO A B A A LAKE MAGDALENE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL 51 51 NO A A A A DOBY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL 51 43 NO B B A A SUMMERFIELD CROSSINGS ELEMENTARY 52 61 NO A A B B NELSON ELEMENTARY SCHOOL 54 52 NO B A A A VALRICO ELEMENTARY SCHOOL 54 49 NO B A A A MANISCALCO ELEMENTARY SCHOOL 55 50 NO A A A A LEWIS ELEMENTARY SCHOOL 55 61 NO B B B A SESSUMS ELEMENTARY SCHOOL 59 63 NO B A A A MINTZ ELEMENTARY SCHOOL 62 73 NO A A B A SEFFNER ELEMENTARY SCHOOL 62 49 NO A A A A ANDERSON ELEMENTARY SCHOOL 62 44 NO B B A A RIVERVIEW ELEMENTARY SCHOOL 62 50 NO B A B A SHORE ELEMENTARY MAGNET SCHOOL 62 79 YES C B A A LOMAX MAGNET ELEMENTARY SCHOOL 64 89 YES A C B A LINCOLN ELEMENTARY MAGNET SCHOOL 65 81 YES A B A B ROLAND PARK K-8 MAGNET SCHOOL 65 82 YES C       BAILEY ELEMENTARY 66 45 YES C B B   SUMMERFIELD ELEMENTARY SCHOOL 67 61 YES C B B A BAY CREST ELEMENTARY SCHOOL 68 64 YES A A A A CORK ELEMENTARY SCHOOL 69 45 YES A B A A COLSON ELEMENTARY SCHOOL 69 52 YES B B B A SCHMIDT ELEMENTARY SCHOOL 70 74 YES C B A A LOPEZ ELEMENTARY SCHOOL 71 40 YES C C B B SEMINOLE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL 71 60 YES C C A A KINGSWOOD ELEMENTARY SCHOOL 72 65 YES B A B A PINECREST ELEMENTARY SCHOOL 72 32 YES B B A A CORR ELEMENTARY SCHOOL 72 71 YES C B B A CHIARAMONTE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL 75 49 YES A B A A LEE ELEMENTARY MAGNET SCHOOL 75 78 YES C C B A YATES ELEMENTARY SCHOOL 76 60 YES C C B A CANNELLA ELEMENTARY SCHOOL 78 80 YES B A A A USF/PATEL PARTNERSHIP ELEMENTARY 80 86 YES B B B A MULLER ELEMENTARY MAGNET SCHOOL 80 83 YES B B B A FROST ELEMENTARY SCHOOL 80 80 YES C C B B IPPOLITO ELEMENTARY SCHOOL 80 81 YES C B C C TEMPLE TERRACE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL 80 83 YES C C A A WOODBRIDGE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL 80 84 YES C B A A BELLAMY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL 81 81 YES A A A A DICKENSON ELEMENTARY SCHOOL 81 84 YES B A A A MORGAN WOODS ELEMENTARY SCHOOL 81 81 YES C B C B KNIGHTS ELEMENTARY SCHOOL 82 51 YES B A B A SPRINGHEAD ELEMENTARY SCHOOL 83 59 YES B B B A MENDENHALL ELEMENTARY SCHOOL 84 87 YES B A A B CAHOON ELEMENTARY MAGNET SCHOOL 85 79 YES A A A A LANIER ELEMENTARY SCHOOL 85 69 YES B A B B FOLSOM ELEMENTARY SCHOOL 85 66 YES C C A A ROBINSON ELEMENTARY SCHOOL 85 63 YES C B B A WILSON ELEMENTARY SCHOOL 86 66 YES A A A A CYPRESS CREEK ELEMENTARY SCHOOL 86 75 YES C C C A RUSKIN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL 86 76 YES D C C A DAVIS ELEMENTARY SCHOOL 87 80 YES C B B B TWIN LAKES ELEMENTARY SCHOOL 87 86 YES C B B B WESTSHORE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL 87 78 YES C B C C THONOTOSASSA ELEMENTARY SCHOOL 87 52 YES D C B B PIZZO ELEMENTARY SCHOOL 89 87 YES A B B B EGYPT LAKE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL 89 90 YES B A B A DUNBAR ELEMENTARY MAGNET SCHOOL 90 95 YES C B B B MANGO ELEMENTARY SCHOOL 90 71 YES C C B B MCDONALD ELEMENTARY SCHOOL 90 43 YES C B A C FOREST HILLS ELEMENTARY SCHOOL 91 78 YES C C C B JACKSON ELEMENTARY SCHOOL 91 79 YES C C A B RIVERHILLS ELEMENTARY SCHOOL 91 93 YES D F C C ALEXANDER ELEMENTARY SCHOOL 92 94 YES A A A A TOWN & COUNTRY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL 92 88 YES B A A A CRESTWOOD ELEMENTARY SCHOOL 92 94 YES C B B B BRYAN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL 92 89 YES D C A A GIBSONTON ELEMENTARY SCHOOL 92 54 YES D C B B OAK GROVE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL 92 88 YES I A A A TAMPA BAY BOULEVARD ELEMENTARY SCHOOL 93 93 YES B B C B TRAPNELL ELEMENTARY SCHOOL 93 83 YES C C C A KIMBELL ELEMENTARY 93 88 YES D C C C BURNEY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL 94 85 YES B A B A BROWARD ELEMENTARY SCHOOL 94 92 YES C D D C DOVER ELEMENTARY SCHOOL 94 87 YES C C B B KENLY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL 94 74 YES D C D C CLEVELAND ELEMENTARY SCHOOL 95 91 YES B B B C BING ELEMENTARY SCHOOL 95 80 YES C B A B FOSTER ELEMENTARY SCHOOL 95 94 YES C B C B MOSI PARTNERSHIP ELEMENTARY 95 94 YES D C D A LOCKHART ELEMENTARY MAGNET SCHOOL 95 93 YES D D C B EDISON ELEMENTARY SCHOOL 95 94 YES D C C C REDDICK ELEMENTARY SCHOOL 96 93 YES B A B C DESOTO ELEMENTARY SCHOOL 96 88 YES B A B A SHAW ELEMENTARY SCHOOL 96 92 YES B A C C WEST TAMPA ELEMENTARY SCHOOL 96 97 YES B A B C WIMAUMA ELEMENTARY SCHOOL 96 92 YES B C A A PALM RIVER ELEMENTARY SCHOOL 96 84 YES C C C B JAMES ELEMENTARY SCHOOL 96 97 YES D D C B WITTER ELEMENTARY SCHOOL 96 93 YES D C C A SHEEHY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL 97 97 YES D C C B CLAIR-MEL ELEMENTARY SCHOOL 97 90 YES D C C C GRAHAM ELEMENTARY SCHOOL 97 95 YES D C D C JUST ELEMENTARY 98 99 YES C C F C MILES ELEMENTARY SCHOOL 98 88 YES C D F C MORT ELEMENTARY SCHOOL 98 88 YES D C C C ROBLES ELEMENTARY SCHOOL 98 98 YES D C C C OAK PARK ELEMENTARY SCHOOL 99 93 YES C D C C POTTER ELEMENTARY SCHOOL 99 98 YES D D D C SULPHUR SPRINGS ELEMENTARY SCHOOL 99 96 YES D C C B WASHINGTON ELEMENTARY SCHOOL 100 96 YES D C F D Source: Florida Department of Education

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MIDDLE SCHOOL RANKED BY FREE OR REDUCED-LUNCH RATE

MIDDLE SCHOOL NAME Free or Reduced Lunch Rate Minority Rate Title I Grade 2012 Grade 2011 Grade 2010 Grade 2009 RANDALL MIDDLE SCHOOL 13 22 NO A A A A MARTINEZ MIDDLE SCHOOL 20 36 NO A A A A COLEMAN MIDDLE SCHOOL 22 31 NO A A A A WILSON MIDDLE SCHOOL 25 38 NO A A A A WALKER MIDDLE MAGNET SCHOOL 27 44 NO A       FARNELL MIDDLE SCHOOL 30 46 NO A A A A BURNS MIDDLE SCHOOL 34 37 NO A A A A MULRENNAN MIDDLE SCHOOL 41 44 NO A A A A BARRINGTON MIDDLE SCHOOL 42 45 NO A A B   RAMPELLO K-8 MAGNET SCHOOL 42 67 NO A A A A BENITO MIDDLE SCHOOL 43 63 NO A A A A BARTELS MIDDLE SCHOOL 44 64 NO A A A A WILLIAMS MIDDLE MAGNET SCHOOL 44 74 NO A A A A LIBERTY MIDDLE SCHOOL 50 57 NO A A A A HILL MIDDLE SCHOOL 52 62 NO B A A A DAVIDSEN MIDDLE SCHOOL 57 62 NO B A A A PROGRESS VILLAGE MIDDLE MAGNET SCHOOL 58 63 NO B A A A EISENHOWER MIDDLE SCHOOL 63 60 NO B A A A MANN MIDDLE SCHOOL 63 53 NO B A A A ORANGE GROVE MIDDLE MAGNET SCHOOL 63 68 YES B A A A RODGERS MIDDLE SCHOOL 64 59 NO C B A A ROLAND PARK K-8 MAGNET SCHOOL 65 82 YES C       SERGEANT PAUL R SMITH MIDDLE SCHOOL 66 68 YES B A A A TOMLIN MIDDLE SCHOOL 66 54 YES B A A A BURNETT MIDDLE SCHOOL 72 53 YES C B B B BUCHANAN MIDDLE SCHOOL 74 66 YES C C B B ADAMS MIDDLE SCHOOL 75 69 YES B A A A TURKEY CREEK MIDDLE SCHOOL 76 56 YES C B B A FRANKLIN MIDDLE MAGNET SCHOOL 77 77 YES D       MONROE MIDDLE SCHOOL 77 77 YES D C C A MADISON MIDDLE SCHOOL 80 74 YES C C C C MARSHALL MIDDLE SCHOOL 80 56 YES C C A A FERRELL MIDDLE MAGNET SCHOOL 83 83 YES C       GIUNTA MIDDLE SCHOOL 83 78 YES D C B B MCLANE MIDDLE SCHOOL 84 81 YES C C C D YOUNG MIDDLE MAGNET SCHOOL 84 93 YES C C B B GRECO MIDDLE SCHOOL 86 84 YES D C B C SHIELDS MIDDLE SCHOOL 87 80 YES D C C C WEBB MIDDLE SCHOOL 89 84 YES C B B C JENNINGS MIDDLE SCHOOL 89 74 YES D C C C DOWDELL MIDDLE SCHOOL 91 77 YES D C C C PIERCE MIDDLE SCHOOL 92 91 YES C C B C MEMORIAL MIDDLE SCHOOL 92 86 YES D C C B SLIGH MIDDLE SCHOOL 95 95 YES F D D C VAN BUREN MIDDLE SCHOOL 96 95 YES D C C C Source: Florida Department of Education


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