GB Elementary third graders among state's FCAT elite
Santa Rosa state's best in Reading, Math on Norm Referenced Test
BY JASON THOMPSON Gulf Breeze News jason@gulfbreezenews.com

Gulf Breeze Elementary third graders were not only the best in the area in a part of the recent FCAT testing, but are also among the best in the state.

In the Norm Referenced Test portion of the FCAT, GBES third graders were sixth - out of almost 2,000 schools - in mean scale score in reading (677) and eighth in the state in their mean scale score in match (678).

Oriole Beach Elementary was second in the school district in mean scale score for reading (667) and were tied for 45th statewide. In math, OBES third graders were fourth in the county (662) and 86th statewide.

Santa Rosa County's score of 656 in mean reading score was the highest in the state among school districts with more than 200 third graders. The statewide average mean score was 635. A total of 1,800 third graders took the test countywide. Santa Rosa was also tops in the state (minimum of 200 students) in math with a score of 657.

Pensacola Beach Elementary's third graders were seventh (649) out of the 38 elementary schools in Escambia County for reading and were second in math (653), two points behind NB Cook Elementary.

PBES also had 100 percent of its third graders score three or higher on the NRT Reading Test for the third consecutive year.

The statewide results for third graders in both subjects were released last week, while the FCAT Writing exam taken by third, eighth and 10th graders statewide were released a couple of weeks ago.

Writing (fourth, eighth,

10th grades)

Statewide, Florida's fourth and eighth graders made improvements in writing from a year ago, while tenth graders fell slightly. Seventy-eight percent of Florida fourth graders scored a three (out of six) or higher, up two percent from last year. Eighth-graders improved by three percent (83 to 86), while tenth graders fell one percent from 80 to 79 percent.

The state-wide mean score of 302 for fourth graders was six points higher than last year, while eighth graders' score of 291 was four points higher and tenth graders' score of 296 was one point higher.

In Santa Rosa County, 81 percent of fourth graders scored three or higher, an improvement of seven points. County eighth graders improved by five points (84 to 89), while tenth graders fell one point to 82.

Gulf Breeze High - Eightyseven percent of GBHS' 10th graders scored a 3.5 or higher, up eight points from a year ago. Their mean score of 330 was two points higher, while the average score of 4.2 was a tenth of a point higher.

Gulf Breeze Middle - Ninety-four percent of GBMS' eighth graders scored a 3.5 or higher, up six points from a year ago. Their mean score of 339 was 11 points higher, while the average score of 4.5 was three tenths of a point higher.

Woodlawn Beach Middle - Ninety-two percent of WBMS' eighth graders scored a 3.5 or higher, up six points from a year ago. Their mean score of 319 was six points lower, but their average score of 4.3 was a tenth of a point higher.

Gulf Breeze Elementary - Eighty-six percent of GBES' fourth graders scored a 3.5 or higher, up eight points from a year ago. Their mean score of 342 was 25 points higher, while the average score of 4.0 was a tenth of a point higher.

Oriole Beach Elementary - Ninety-four percent of OBES' fourth graders scored a 3.5 or higher, up 16 points from a year ago. Their mean score of 362 was seven points higher, while the average score of 4.4 went unchanged from last year.

Pensacola Beach Elementary - Ninety percent of PBES' fourth graders scored a 3.5 or higher, up six points from a year ago. Their mean score of 360 was 45 points higher, while the average score of 4.4 was three tenths of a point higher.

Reading and math

(third grade)

Statewide, 69 percent of third graders scored three or higher in reading, down six points from last year. But 74 percent of Florida's third graders scored three or higher in math, up two points from last year.

In Santa Rosa County, 86 percent of third graders scored three or higher, down three points from last year. But in math, 87 percent of third graders scored three or higher, up a point from last year.

Gulf Breeze Elementary - Ninety five percent of GBES third graders scored three or higher in reading, up one percent from last year. Ninety eight percent of GBES third graders scored three or higher in math, up one percent from last year.

Twenty two and 43 percent of GBES' third graders scored five or higher in reading and math, respectively.

GBES' mean scores of 360 and 387 in reading and math were down five points and up two points, respectively from last year.

Oriole Beach Elementary - Ninety three percent of OBES third graders scored three or higher in reading, down four percent from last year. Ninety one percent of OBES third graders scored three or higher in math, down three percent from last year.

Twenty two and 43 percent of OBES' third graders scored five or higher in reading and math, respectively.

OBES' mean scores of 357 and 365 in reading and math were up four and seven points, respectively from last year.

Pensacola Beach Elementary - As previously mentioned, all of PBES' third graders scored three or higher in reading. Ninety-four percent of them scored three or higher in math, down six points from their perfect score last year.

PBES' mean scores of 336 and 357 in reading and math were down 17 and 34 points, respectively from last year.