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To use the state's grading system, it's important to understand how those grades are set and what the standards mean.
By Times staff
© St. Petersburg Times, published September 15, 2002
Let's look at one example to see how the state grades a school. Madeira Beach Elementary got a solid B from the state last year. (You might want to follow along on the school grade chart. Look under Zone A under schools that earned a B. Find Madeira Beach and lay a straight edge along the line to make it easy to follow.)
The school's total score was 390 points. The range for a B was from 380 to 409 points.
For 2001-2002, the state took all FCAT scores from a school, then analyzed them to get the total points, and then the grade. In general, scores were counted if the pupils were standard curriculum students who had been enrolled at the school in both October and February.
At Madeira Beach -- as at all elementary schools -- third-, fourth- and fifth-graders were tested in reading and in math. Fourth-graders took a third test -- writing.
The state awarded points for the percentage of students who met "high standards" in reading, math and writing. In Madeira Beach's case, of the scores that counted:
58 percent of the students met high standards in reading.
54 percent of the students met high standards in math.
73 percent of the students met high standards in writing.
Add up those three numbers, and you will get the school's total points for meeting high standards.
Next, the state gives more points to schools for students who make "learning gains" in reading and in math.
In Madeira Beach's case:
64 percent of the students made learning gains in reading.
77 percent of the students made learning gains in math.
Last of all, the state awards points for schools where students struggling with reading make learning gains.
In Madeira Beach's case:
Of the students who had scored in the bottom quarter in reading, 64 percent of them made learning gains.
To grade Madeira Beach, the state added up all six of those numbers. The sum is 390, and the grade is a B.
So far, so good.
But the grade doesn't tell you the raw test scores. And those give more information about a school's test performance.
For example, every student who takes the FCAT reading test is given a final score ranging from 1 to 5. For the state's purpose, a student who scored a 3, 4 or a 5 on reading is counted the same -- as "meeting high standards."
By the state's own definitions, the difference between a 3 and a 5 for an individual student is substantial. For a 5, the state says "performance at this level indicates that the student has success with the most challenging content of the Sunshine State Standards." For a 3, the state says "performance at this level indicates that the student has partial success with the challenging content of the Sunshine State Standards, but performance is inconsistent."
To see a detailed breakdown of a school's actual scores (including all students, not just the ones whose scores contributed to the school grade) go to the state's FCAT Web site -- http://www.firn.edu/doe/sas/fcat/fcatscor.htm -- and look up the school you want to see. The results are listed separately for third, fourth and fifth grade.
For Madeira Beach, the reading scores of 82 third-graders are listed. Of those students, 37 percent performed at level 1 (the lowest), 12 percent performed at level 2, 35 percent performed at level 3, 12 percent performed at level 4, and 4 percent performed at level 5 (the highest). Following the state's definition of "meeting high standards," the 35 percent who achieved level 3 count the same as the 4 percent who achieved level 5.
ST. PETERSBURG -- Special interests or needs sometimes go beyond the curricula offered in the array of regular, fundamental and magnet schools.
That's where charter schools can help. They are considered public schools, but are operated by nonprofit organizations. Youngsters attend for free. Employees work for the charter school, not the Pinellas County school system.
There currently are four charter schools in the county.
Academie Da Vinci, 1380 Pinehurst Road, Dunedin, (727) 298-2778. Grades 1-5. It is the county's first charter school, and has a concentration on fine and performing arts in addition to its regular academic curriculum.
The Athenian Academy, 1120 Curlew Road, Dunedin, (727) 298-2718. Grades K-3, with plans to add a grade each year. It offers bilingual Greek cultural immersion and intensive Spanish instruction.
The Love of Learning, 403 First Ave. SW, Largo, (727) 581-9550. Grades 4-6, with plans to add a grade every year. It is designed for creative students with leadership potential.
Whole Child at UPARC, 1501 N Belcher Road, Clearwater, (727) 799-3330. Prekindergarten. It offers early intervention for children with developmental and physical disabilities.
A concept called "extended grandfathering" allows students who were enrolled in a public school as of June 6, 2001, to go through their currently zoned elementary, middle and high schools, as if choice didn't take place.
Charter schools add another wrinkle to the concept.
For example, Love of Learning currently has grades 4-6. A student graduating from the school and entering seventh grade loses extended grandfathering because he or she left a zoned elementary school to attend Love of Learning, school district officials say.
For information: www.pinellas.k12.fl.us/infosvcs/pdf/schooldir_charter.pdf.
-- JON WILSON