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Districtwide, FCAT scores go up
By MELANIE AVE © St. Petersburg Times, published May 9, 2001
The district claimed bragging rights by tying for first statewide with two other districts on the eighth-grade writing test. The district also scored better than the state average in each subject at the fourth-, fifth-, eighth- and 10th-grade levels. Only the 10th-grade writing scores, which dipped one-tenth of a point, and fifth-grade math scores, which stayed the same, failed to improve over last year. The annual Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test scores, posted Tuesday on the Internet by the Department of Education, will also be used to determine each school's grade under the state's A through F system. The grades are expected to be released in three weeks. Since the grading system was introduced three years ago, no Hillsborough school has scored low enough to get an F. Based on a cursory review Tuesday, it appears that record is intact, said John Hilderbrand, the district's director of assessment. "It looks like we did well," he said. "But how well, it's hard to tell." The scores released Tuesday represent fourth-grade reading and writing tests; fifth-grade math tests; and eighth- and 10th-grade reading, writing and math tests. Scores from special education students and limited-English-speaking students will be removed, and attendance and dropout rates will be considered when individual schools are graded. Last year, the number of A schools in Hillsborough jumped from seven to 44. There were 19 schools with B's last year, 73 with C's and 18 with D's. The only high school to earn a D last year, Jefferson, appears in trouble again because of poor reading scores. At schools Tuesday, reaction ran the gamut from cheers to sighs. Some found downloading the scores an exercise in frustration. "With so many people trying to get in, you have to wait," said Ruskin Elementary Assistant Principal Donna Ippolito. By the end of the school day, she still had been unable to see the scores for her school, which jumped from a D to an A last year. Kenly Elementary School Principal Carolyn Hill noted the improvements in reading and math made by her school, one of 14 in Hillsborough hoping to improve after getting D's two years in a row. She admitted to being nervous. "I dare you to find one principal who hasn't been," she said. Just south of Ybor City, DeSoto Elementary Principal Manuel Duran said he's crossing his fingers for the school, whose fourth-graders received the lowest writing scores in the district this year. The school wasn't graded last year, but earned a D the year before. Duran said many of his students come from impoverished homes where nary a book can be found. Others, who speak other languages, struggle with English. "We did everything we could," said a downbeat Duran. "It's my responsibility. I apologize to the parents." At the district offices in downtown Tampa, Jackie Heard was in the clouds over the district's eighth-grade writing scores. Hillsborough's 36 middle schools tied for first of all regular curriculum schools in the state along with Calhoun and Martin counties. "I'm really pumped," said Heard, the district's middle school director. "Almost half our schools scored a 4.0 or higher, which is unbelievable." Hyde Park's Wilson Middle School pulled in the second highest writing score in the state behind Jewett Middle Academy, a magnet school in Polk County. There was a one-tenth of a point difference between the schools. Principal Jean Hamilton said the children did so well because of the emphasis placed on writing. Writing assignments are given in every subject, including math. On Tuesday, she went from class to class with the good news. "I told them they're the best in the state among traditional children," Hamilton said. "They clapped." When Plant High School Principal Eric Bergholm found out his school led all Hillsborough high schools in reading, math and writing scores, he was nearly speechless. "God, that's awesome," said Bergholm, who credited hard-working teachers and students. "It's certainly a good feeling to have such high scores." - Melanie Ave covers education and can be reached at (813) 226-3400.
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