One school's FCAT success story
A Citrus County elementary overcame obstacles including the abduction and murder of a student to earn its sixth straight A.
By EDDY RAMIREZ
Published June 9, 2005
HOMOSASSA - The odds have long been stacked against Homosassa Elementary School.
Most of its students come from poor backgrounds, a factor that often portends low scores on the Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test, the basis for school grades.
This year, the obstacles mounted. Construction problems on campus meant students had to be bused to other schools for several weeks.
And just days before the FCAT, third-grader Jessica Lunsford vanished, rattling schoolmates.
Amid the tumult, Homosassa Elementary handled the FCAT with typical aplomb.
It scored an A.
Belying the commonly held notion that poor schools fare poorly on the FCAT, Homosassa became the only Florida school to earn six A's after earning a D in 1999, the first year of school grades.
"We had some very severe situations," principal Regina Allegretta said Wednesday, choking back tears. "But in spite of everything we've been through, we never lost focus."
How did Homosassa Elementary, where 67 percent of students receive free or reduced-price meals, add another A to its stellar report card?
Hard work and fundamentals.
The entire staff plays a role in motivating students. The school has consistently maintained small class sizes to ensure more one-on-one time with students.
The faculty is comprised of veteran teachers with an average 17 years of experience - the state average is 13 years - who instill discipline, set high standards for students and place an emphasis on reading at all grade levels.
Tutors come to school to help with reading, and a remedial reading lab supports the reading program at all grade levels. All kindergarten through fifth-grade students spend time in the lab daily.
"It's all hard work and dedication and the love of children that pushed us to have high expectations," Allegretta said. "We know every child can succeed no matter their economic level."
It took some courage, too.
The search for Jessica, and the arrest of a suspect in her killing, spawned fear and heartache. Jessica was reported missing Feb. 24, days before students took the FCAT. She had told her grandmother that she was looking forward to the test, Allegretta said.
"The tragedy that she experienced will always be a part of Homosassa," Allegretta said. "It was very sad for the whole student body."
The school also learned Wednesday that it still has room for improvement.
Under the federal No Child Left Behind Act, which requires all schools to make adequate yearly progress based primarily on FCAT scores, Homosassa Elementary needs to do better on writing.
It was deemed "provisional" under the federal act, but won't face sanctions unless it fails to improve next year.
--Barbara Behrendt contributed to this report. Eddy Ramirez can be reached at eramirez@sptimes.com or 352860-7305.