Weather | Sports | Forums | Comics | Classifieds | Calendar | Movies
DENISE WATSON BATTSThe writing scores for South Tampa schools remain high, but some saw a sharp drop in the latest round of FCAT results.
SOUTH TAMPA - Chiaramonte Elementary had reason to cheer the latest round of third-grade reading and math scores.
Seventy-seven percent of its students scored at grade level or higher in reading, up from 60 percent last year. Math scores rose 9 percent.
The results are not final, but asistant principal Sherry Cornett said the news is good. It shows that their individual instruction with lagging readers paid off.
"We truly have a dedicated staff," she said.
The state released most of the Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test scores this week for fourth- through 10th-graders in reading, math and science. It previously reported results of third-grade reading and math, and fourth-, eighth- and 10th-grade writing. The scores form the basis of the state's school grading system.
The results include students, such as those with certain disabilities or limited English, whose grades will be excluded when scores are tabulated for school grades. Scores won't be final until the summer.
Sam Whitten, supervisor of assessment for the school district, said the preliminary scores are an "initial piece of information" not used for accountability.
"We don't try to determine anything from these scores," he said. "Some of these students are students who just moved in the day before the test."
Third-grade scores were released first because schools need them to determine who will be eligible to pass to the fourth grade. Third grade is the only grade where FCAT scores can determine promotion. Students must prove their reading skills - either through the FCAT, another standardized test, or a portfolio of work - to pass.
The sophomore year is also critical. Tenth-graders must earn minimum scores in reading and math to graduate even though they will have several chances to retake tests by their senior year.
With third-graders, 67 percent of Hillsborough's students tested at grade level or above in reading, compared with 66 percent across the state.
In math, 65 percent of the county's third-graders were at their grade level or above, compared with 64 percent statewide.
South Tampa schools saw mixed results.
At Dale Mabry Elementary, 89 percent of its third-graders tested at grade level or higher in reading, up from last year's 86, while math figures dipped 3 percent.
At Gorrie, 87 percent of students scored at grade level or higher, down from last year's 91. Its math scores fell to 87 percent from 95 last year.
West Tampa Elementary saw the sharpest drop.
Last year, its third-grade reading scores rose from 30 to 50 percent. This year, the figure fell to 27 percent. In math, 52 percent of students performed at grade level last year compared with 27 percent this year.
Linda Cobbe, a district spokeswoman, said schools with low scores will probably see their scores rise as exempted scores are weeded out, such as those of students with limited English. West Tampa's student population speaks nine different languages, according to its Web site.
South Tampa's writing scores continue to be high. Only one elementary school - Lockhart magnet - had less than 80 percent of its students at grade level or higher. All middle and high schools had 90 percent or more of their students writing on grade level.
High schools showed minimal movement in reading, math and writing.
Jefferson was the only high school to show improvement in ninth- and 10th-grade scores across all subjects. Its ninth- and 10th-grade math scores rose 8 percent.
Science scores for individual schools, broken down by achievement level, had not been determined by Monday.
- For more FCAT results, go to http://fcat.fldoe.org