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Schools

County schools remain above average

Hernando County schools earned a B from state officials again this year, and it's a higher B than last year's.

By ABHI RAGHUNATHAN
Published July 20, 2005

BROOKSVILLE - Hernando County schools received an overall B grade from state officials this year, the same as last year and identical to every other school district in the Tampa Bay region.

State education officials announced grades for Florida's 67 school districts on Tuesday afternoon. Most districts received an A or B.

Officials used statistics such as student performance on the Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test and student learning gains to issue the grades.

The state uses similar criteria to determine grades for individual schools, which are considered far more important and come with greater ramifications for teachers and administrators.

But state officials also singled out Hernando for a significantly better performance this year.

Hernando schools improved by 10 points under the state's grading system, one of the largest increases by any district in the state.

While the district still got a B this year, it was a higher one than last year's.

"It's great," said School Board member Pat Fagan. "I think our school system is improving each year."

This year, 15 school districts got an A, and 27 got a B.

Twenty-two districts got a C, and three received a D.

No school district received an F.

Overall, 23 school districts received more points this year than they did last year.

Pasco, Citrus, Hillsborough and Pinellas counties all maintained their B grades from last year.

Abhi Raghunathan can be reached at araghunathan@sptimes.com or 352 848-1431.

[Last modified July 20, 2005, 00:57:15]