Orange County Outperforms State in School Grades
Friday, July 26, 2013
By: Amy Green

July 26, 2013 | WMFE - Nearly 60 percent of Orange County elementary and middle schools are A and B, the Florida Department of Education announced Friday. The grades show Orange County is outpacing the state.

Statewide 55 percent of elementary and middle schools are A and B.

Orange County's 51 A-rated schools include three new ones – Azalea Park Elementary, Dillard Street Elementary and Ocoee Middle.

Cypress Park, Mollie Ray and Palmetto elementary schools all were graded F, and so was Renaissance Charter School at Chickasaw Trail. 

Orange County schools superintendant Barbara Jenkins says students at low-performing schools need help with more than just academics.

"No child should come to school worrying about whether or not they're going to get a meal and where they're going to sleep that night. So one issue we have to deal with is societal problems. Our homeless numbers alone are just through the roof." 

Seminole and Brevard counties each had 28 A schools, while Osecola had eight A schools.

The grades primarily are based on FCAT scores. They are preliminary and can be appealed. Consistently low-performing schools receive assistance from the state.