State School Grades Show Steep Decline
Wednesday, July 11, 2012
By: Tom Parkinson

July 11, 2012 | WMFE - The number of A rated elementary and middle schools in Florida has fallen sharply according to new figures released by the Florida Department of Education this morning. There was also a slight increase in the number of failing schools.

In Central Florida, 13 Orange County schools fell from a C to a D grade but Kaley Elementary School and Nap Ford Charter School each improved from an F to a B.

Hiawassee Elementary moved up from a C to an A grade. Wheatley Elementary and Rio Grande Charter School were the only schools in Orange receiving F grades from the state.

Most schools in Osceola, Brevard and Seminole Counties received As and Bs with a few Cs and Ds.

More than a thousand Florida elementary and middle schools earned an A grade. That's about 350 fewer than last year. 47 schools earned an F grade this year, 16 more than in 2011.

The grades are used to reward top performing schools. Schools with failing or near-failing grades are eligible for extra help from the state.

The grades for Florida high schools are to be released later in the year.