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GB schools rate all 'A's'
¦ Results are from latest FCAT exams
"Obtaining an "A" rating speaks volumes for our students, faculty, administration and community," GBHS Principal Sylvan Ladner said. "It is a collaborative effort and a direct result of hard work and dedication on everyone's part." Schools are assigned a grade based primarily upon student achievement on the FCAT. These grades communicate to the public how well a school is performing according to state standards. School grades are calculated based on annual learning gains of each student, the progress of the lowest quartile of students, and the meeting of proficiency standards. In order to receive an "A" grade for 08-09, a school had to accumulate a total score of 525 points. GBHS tallied 583 points, easily enough to earn the county's highest grade. All other schools in the Gulf Breeze area - Gulf Breeze Elementary and Middle, Woodlawn Beach Middle, and Oriole Beach Elementary - also rated "A" status. Ladner, who just as easily could be speaking for all area schools, said the achievement is a tribute to everyone from the district administration to the parents of the students. "The credit cannot be pinpointed," Ladner said. "It takes the effort of everyone from the district level to the stakeholders of the school." Ladner added that the "A" rating encourages confidence and support from the community and DOE alike. "We are and will continue to be a great school because of the academic programs we are able to provide. Being an "A" school increases the public perception and confidence in what we do. It also provides additional funding, which enables us to purchase programs, software and equipment that will help improve academic achievement and provide a high quality education for our students." The staff at GBHS is not resting on this accomplishment, but rather using it as a means to improve. "Although we received an A, that doesn't mean we are going to rest on that in the future," Ladner explained. "We are in the process of gathering data information to see what we need to improve on and where funds need to be spent to give our students the best chance possible to improve in their academic achievements." These improvements could be vital in helping the school achieve the same grade next year, as the grading standards will be slightly elevated. "Next year the bar is raised, and it will become more difficult to have an "A" rating," Ladner explained. "The requirements will incorporate additional criteria, such as the number of students enrolled in AP and dual enrollment classes, the test scores for AP exams and the grades that students achieve in dual enrollment classes, graduation rate, etc." The school also faces financial challenges in addition to meeting the DOE's higher standards of measurement. "The budget cuts will also play a part in this process," Ladner said. "The next couple of years we will be faced with many new challenges, and we are looking forward to meeting those challenges head-on. We are there now, and we are going to work hard and diligently at maintaining that A in the upcoming school year." Ladner said it is an accomplishment earned and shared by the entire community, and a source of great pride. "I feel extremely proud to be part of this tremendous staff, exceptional student body and great community," Ladner said. "Again, it takes everyone doing his or her part to achieve this." Since 2000-01, GBHS has missed the "A" grade only twice, in 05-06 and 06-07. |
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