East County schools earn top marks

Three Manatee County District high schools earned A grades for the 2011-2012 school year, including Braden River High School and Lakewood Ranch High School.

Four of seven high schools in the district raised their school grades from the previous year, and, for the first time in five years, all Manatee District high schools earned a C grade or better, according to High School Accountability Grades released today by the Florida Department of Education.

Braden River and Lakewood Ranch High Schools raised their grades from a B in 2011 to an A in 2012.

Florida’s High School Accountability system grades schools based on student performance on the Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test (FCAT) and on their ability to graduate students, increase student participation and performance in advanced coursework, and better prepare students for college and career.