BY IRIS B. HOLTON
Sentinel City Editor
A new, expanded grading system has led to several Florida schools receiving higher grades. In Hillsborough County, four schools previously graded as “D” schools, leapt to an “A” grade from last year.
The four schools are Blake High School, King High School, East Bay High School, and Brooks DeBartolo Collegiate Charter School. Sixteen to 27 traditional schools also improved at least 1 grade level.
Several of the schools with increases in grades have a large African American student population. They include Brandon (from C to B); Chamberlain (from D to C); Hillsborough (from C to B); Jefferson (from C to B); and Wharton (from C to A).
Hillsborough County School Superintendent MaryEllen Elia said, “The new components added this year provide a much better picture of the student achievement in our high schools, and more than three quarters of our high schools earned an A or B grade.
“The teachers and administrators at our high schools have done a great job.”
Ms. Sharon Morris rose through the ranks at East Bay High School from classroom teacher to principal. She has taught at the school for her entire career. “We are very excited. I attribute it to the hard work of our students, faculty, and the entire staff.
“I’ve worked here for 28 years and I’ve often said East Bay is the best kept secret in Hillsborough County. Now, the secret is out.”
[private]Ms. Jacqueline Haynes, principal of Blake High School said, “I am ecstatic. We are excited because all of the hard work of our students, faculty, and the entire staff has paid off and the state has recognized it. They are looking at the total school and that’s important. This is a testimony to us having an awesome school in West Tampa.”
Ms. Haynes also said that the Alumni has been very supportive in the past two years. She was assigned to Blake as the Assistant Principal of Curriculum 10 years ago. After 3 years in that position, she became the school’s principal. Ms. Haynes said the components the state began utilizing this year were already in place at Blake High School.
Middleton High School, which has struggled since opening, improved its grade from a “D” to a “C.”
Owen Young said, “George S. Middleton has official received its first “C” FCAT Grade in its recent school’s 8-year history. As principal, I would like to say thank you to the community, stakeholders and to our family members for the support and prayers that you have given us.
“This is just the start of a long but conquerable road of achievements that will be attained by the Middleton High School family. We will strive to become the pride and joy of our community.”
This year, the Florida Department of Education added several new components to the grading system including the graduation rate, college readiness, and accelerated course work.
Congratulations For Improving School
As the news spread throughout the community, several people sent congratulatory messages and encouragement to the Sentinel praising Young and congratulating the school on its improvement from a “D” school to a “C” school.
Ms. Jannette Bradley, Ms. Chloe Coney, Lafe Thomas, Ms. Ella K. Coffee, Curtis Stokes, Teresa Mechele Morning, Tom Looby, Kim Miner, Kevin Bryant and Dr. Samuel Wright, Sr., send their congratulations.[/private]
