Early FCAT Scores Encouraging

Judging by the earliest results disseminated by the state, Gulf County Schools seem to be making the grade, at least as far as the state's yardstick is concerned.
With little fanfare, the state last week released the writing scores on the Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test for grades four, eight and 10.
Previously known as Florida Writes!, the writing scores have been fully folded into FCAT scores which in large measure are used to determine school grades on which much funding depends.
The Florida Legislature this year, however, passed a measure which reduces the extent to which FCAT scores determine school grades, but last week's release of writing scores shows Gulf District Schools at or above grade proficiency as well as state averages.
"We're pleased, very pleased," said Superintendent of Schools Tim Wilder. "We've improved in a lot of areas.
"It's so early to tell (about school grades). If anything this is a good indication that our schools and our teachers have done what they set out to do - improve writing scores. And in such a tough year. They've gone above and beyond. I'm so proud of them."
The state set a proficiency score of 3.5 for all grades taking the writing test and at all three grades levels in Gulf District Schools the students more than hit the mark.
The county's eight-graders particularly shown with a 4.2 combined score on the writing test, which requires students to undertake both explanatory and persuasive writing.
Although well above grade proficiency, the combined score is down from 4.4 last year, a reflection that both middle schools slipped a bit, Port St. Joe Middle School eighth-graders dropping from 4.3 to a 4.2 while in Wewahitchka, eighth-graders slid from a 4.4 combined to a 4.2.
However, fourth-graders - who are asked to write in expository and narrative form - and the county's high school sophomores each combined for a 3.7 score, above the proficiency mark.
For county fourth-graders, that reflected a stability in scoring as the district also had a 3.7 combined score among fourth-graders last year.
At the individual elementary schools, it was a mixed bag, as Port St. Joe Elementary fourth-graders went from a 3.5 to a 3.7 combined score while at Wewahitchka Elementary, fourth-grade writing scores slipped from a 4.0 combined to 3.6.
For high school sophomores, the 3.7 combined score represented a drop from 3.9 last year.
That reflected a status quo at Wewahitchka High School where the combined score remained at the 3.5 of last year while at Port St. Joe High School the combined score dropped from 4.2 to 3.9.
Against the rest of the state the district held its own.
The county's eighth-graders matched the state average of 4.2, while fourth- and tenth-graders were slightly behind state averages of 3.8 and 3.9, respectively.
Among county fourth-graders 69 percent were at 3.5 or above while 55 percent scored at least a 4.0 on a test scored from 1.0 to 6.0.
Across the state, 77 percent of fourth-graders were at 3.5 or better.
There were two county fourth-graders who earned a perfect score.
Among eighth-graders, the numbers were even more impressive.
Fully 88 percent of the county's eighth-graders hit 3.5 or above while 73 percent were at 4.0 or above, with eight students earning perfect scores. In the entire state, 88 percent of eighth-grade students met the grade proficiency score.
The numbers of the county's 10-graders were similar to those at the fourth grade level.
Among county high school sophomores, 70 percent were at 3.5 or above - across the state the percentage was 78 percent - with 56 percent at 4.0 or above.
There were three perfect scores among those students tested.
According to the Florida Department of Education, the percentage of students in all three grades scoring at grade proficiency levels has increased across the state since last year.
And the majority of fourth-, eighth- and 10th-graders continue to score 3.5 and above on the essay portions of the exam.
"These results are evidence that the tremendous efforts of our teachers have a direct and positive impact on our children's futures," said Florida Education Commissioner Eric J. Smith. "It is through their selfless commitment to student success that our state has been able to experience the phenomenal academic growth that we have seen in the last decade."