More Florida High Schools Get A Grades in 2012
Friday, December 21, 2012
By: Matthew Peddie

December 21, 2012 | WMFE- The number of Florida High Schools receiving an A grade rose in 2012 according to preliminary results from the state department of education.

231 schools were graded A, up from 148 in 2011.

Education commissioner Pam Stewart says the results are encouraging as Florida moves to more rigorous standards.

But she says the 2012 calculation didn't include science scores. 

“Because biology cut scores were just being established now, that science calculation was not included in the 11- 12 school grading calculation, so that may have been one factor that contributed.”

Schools which show high student performance or substantial improvement are rewarded with school recognition funds.

In Orange County, 15 out of 17 high schools in the district earned an A or B grade.

Magnolia School, a special center for physically, mentally and cognitively impaired students, was graded F.

This is the first year exceptional student education centers were included in Florida's school accountability system.

Orange County School district superintendent Barbara Jenkins says Magnolia will get state assistance to help improve its grade.