BRADENTON — The official state school grades were released July 1, and the School District of Manatee County has maintained its B grade from the Florida Department of Education.
Among the highlights, 10 schools improved by at least one letter grade, and the School District earned its highest number of A-rated schools since 2008, according to the district.
The district also recorded a 90% graduation rate, the highest in its history.
“Our results highlight the academic focus across our schools and the efforts of our entire district community,” said Superintendent Dr. Laurie Breslin. “We are proud of the progress, and we look forward to accelerating our momentum in the new school year.”
Among the schools demonstrating improvement:
• Samoset Elementary School: D to A (earning its first A grade since the 2008–2009 school year)
• Jessie P. Miller Elementary School: C to A
• Marjorie G. Kinnan Elementary School: B to A
• Braden River Middle School: B to A (earning its first A grade since the 2013–2014 school year)
• Myakka Elementary School: C to A
• William H. Bashaw Elementary School: C to B
• Lincoln Memorial Middle School: C to B (achieving a B grade for the first time since the 2007–2008 school year)
• H.S. Moody Elementary School: C to B
• Palm View K-8 School: C to B
• Sea Breeze Elementary School: C to B
The School District also said it made strides in early literacy, a critical predictor of long-term academic success. At district-operated prekindergarten sites, the percentage of students performing at the Early Transitional Reader level or higher increased by 12 percentage points.
Reading proficiency among third-grade students, a key benchmark for future academic achievement, also improved significantly, increasing by 4 percentage points districtwide. Nine elementary schools increased third grade reading proficiency by 10 percentage points or more.
Some schools, however, received lower grades than last year.
Most notably, Visible Men Academy went from an A to an F grade.
Other schools that declined include:
• Lakewood Ranch High School: A to B
• Manatee Charter School: B to C
• Parrish Charter Academy: B to C