BY IRIS B. HOLTON
Sentinel City Editor
Earlier This week, the State of Florida released grades for elementary and middle schools. The grades for high schools will be released later.
Several of the traditional schools improved their grades over last year. However, some school grades declined.
Several schools improved their grades over last year despite changes that took place in the way tests were scored.
Hillsborough County School Superintendent MaryEllen Elia said in a press release, “Many of our schools are celebrating. We knew that the raised standards would have an impact. Despite the fact that we are in a transition year, most of our schools earned A or B, half of our schools maintained their grade, and several improved their grade. That’s a direct result of the hard work of our students and teachers.”
The grading system of the charter schools showed that two improved in Hillsborough County. Both Mount Pleasant Standard Base Middle School and Walton Academy received As.
Last year, Lomax Elementary Magnet School received a “C.” However, this year, Lomax was awarded an “A.”
Ms. Connie Chisholm, principal of Lomax Elementary School attributes the improvement to the focus of her teachers, the extended learning day program, and the Saturday tutoring offered to the students.
Sligh Middle Magnet School received a “D” last year, but fell to an “F” grade this year. Ferrell Academy for Girls and Franklin Academy for Boys, the two newly configured schools, received their first grades this year. Franklin received an “F” and Ferrell received a “C.”
Mrs. Doretha Edgecomb (pictured), school board member said that Superintendent Elia discusses the grades with her and shares plans about ways to improve the grades.
“She goes over the grades with me and the discusses strategies that are in place. We already have a team that has ongoing conversations on how to improve schools.
“One of the misconceptions is that we don’t start doing anything until a school gets a bad grade. That is not true because we have people who work very hard all year. But sometimes, for whatever reason, all of the factors just don’t come together at the same time.”
State Education Commissioner Gerard Robins0n recorded a telephone message to Hillsborough County parents that put the new standards and grades in perspective.
