Manatee schools earns positive marks

Five of the Manatee County School District’s high schools, including both Lakewood Ranch and Braden River high schools, have earned a B grade for the 2009-10 school year, according to a report released by Florida Department of Education Dec. 7.

This is the first year the department is assessing high schools based not only on the Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test, but also on their ability to graduate students, increase student participation and performance in advanced coursework and to better prepare students for college.

Under the new high school grading system, which was introduced as part of Senate bill 1908 during the 2008 legislative session, the department bases 50% of “high school accountability grades” on FCAT scores and the remaining half on other factors.

Lakewood Ranch High School earned a B, scoring 1222 points — the highest of all district high schools. Braden River also earned a B, scoring 1180 points, only 15 points fewer than Manatee High.

All five of the B-rated schools received enough points to earn an A score, but other factors resulted in lower scores. For example, Braden River did not make 50% or greater learning gain in reading and math among the lowest quartile of students. Lakewood Ranch did not make 50% or greater learning gains in reading among the same group of students.

Contact Pam Eubanks at [email protected].