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FCAT

Younger pupils higher on FCAT

Elementary students did far better than middle and high school students, in results similar to those statewide. The younger students actually did better than their peers in Florida.

By ABHI RAGHUNATHAN
Published May 20, 2005

BROOKSVILLE - Hernando County students showed small improvements in their reading and math skills this year, and elementary-grade children continued to perform much better than older students on the state's assessment test.

Hernando students posted modest increases at most grade levels on the reading and math sections of the Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test, according to the results released Thursday. Hernando students performed roughly on par with other students in the state.

Still, the results also showed that, as in years past, the county's elementary schools do a Euch better job preparing their students for the FCAT than do middle and high schools.

The disparity in scores between elementary schools and higher grades is common throughout Florida.

For example, 71 percent of Florida fourth-graders demonstrated proficiency on the reading FCAT this year, compared to just 32 percent of 10th-graders. The gap was similar in Hernando: 73 percent of fourth-graders demonstrated proficiency in reading, while 32 percent of 10th-graders received adequate scores.

The FCAT divides students into five achievement levels. Students who score at Level 3 or higher are considered to be performing at or above grade level.

Superintendent Wendy Tellone said she was happy with the trend of rising scores, but wanted to do more analysis to determine which programs were working well and which ones were not.

"I am pleased with the improvements," Tellone said. "I'm hoping to see changes in middle and high schools in future years."

Tellone lauded the performance of Nature Coast Technical High School. The percentage of students at the school scoring 3 or above shot up significantly in reading and math for both ninth and 10th grades. The percentage of 10th-graders scoring at least a 3 in reading increased from 23 percent to 32 percent, and the percentage scoring at least a 3 in math went from 51 percent to 68 percent.

Nature Coast principal Tizzy Schoelles credited a new schoolwide program that features weekly reading and math activities. She also praised math and exceptional student education teacher Victoria Joseph, who helped 176 of 180 students she taught score a 3 or above.

"I'm happy with the gain," Schoelles said. "But I'll still be concerned until we get to having 50 to 60 percent of students scoring a 3 or above."

This year, the percentage of Florida students reading at grade level begins to drop sharply after fourth grade, and dips well below 50 percent for eighth-, ninth- and 10th-graders.

Schoelles, who was principal at Suncoast Elementary School before opening Nature Coast two years ago, said students faced more complicated material on the FCAT in higher grades.

Florida Education Commissioner John Winn said the state is still trying to determine why 10th-grade scores flopped again. Gov. Jeb Bush said the state was still moving forward in most areas.

"It's very difficult to make up for a generation of social promotion," Bush said.

The performance of Hernando schools varied widely. In general, though, students demonstrated high proficiency in their early years and low proficiency in later years. The biggest drop seems to come as students leave elementary school for middle school, and student performance continues to decline through later years.

Some middle schools made progress. Despite the turmoil surrounding its suspended principal, Michael Ransaw, Powell Middle School held steady or showed slight progress in reading and math scores for most grade levels. Acting principal Earl Deen said students had stayed focused and benefited from a practice FCAT session in the fall.

Among the county's elementary schools, Brooksville, Chocachatti and Pine Grove continued to post strong performances, mostly above the state average. J.D. Floyd and Spring Hill, both schools that struggle with overcrowding, had mixed performances.

Staff writers Ron Matus, Alisa Ulferts, Matthew Waite and Connie Humburg and the Associated Press contributed to this report. Abhi Raghunathan can be reached at araghunathan@sptimes.com or 352 848-1431.

FCAT scores for individual schools are available on the Florida Department of Education's Web site: http://fcat.fldoe.org

[Last modified May 20, 2005, 01:06:18]