Manatee County School District student scores still off state average after State Board of Education releases new test info

BRADENTON -- With finalized passing scores set by the State Board of Education earlier this week, Manatee County school officials are projecting how well students did on the new state standardized tests taken last spring.

The scores were released only weeks before students head into another round of state testing.

With the new state standardized tests, the Manatee County School District is on par with previous year scores, and still falls below the state average. Based on its own analysis, the Manatee County School District will have six failing schools and 14 A schools out of 46 schools.

The State Board of Education unanimously adopted Education Commissioner Pam Stewart's five-scale score recommendations Wednesday and a new formula to calculate school grades. Using State Board of Education formulas, Manatee County School District officials calculated how many students scored passing grades on the test.

Students are scored on a scale of one through five, with one being the lowest and five the highest. Level three or above is passing. Students are considered "proficient" in a subject if they score a level four or higher. Student scores are used to calculate what grade, A through F, each school is given. The state also grades districts A through F.

Formal school grades come out in February, but the school district has already run projections and simulations based on state information.

Statewide, a lower percent

age of students passed the new exams based on Florida State Standards, which are a modification of the Common Core Standards.

Sandra Riley-Hawkins, testing coordinator for Manatee schools, cautioned district results are still preliminary and subject to change when the state issues official results.

"These are still considered 'simulated,' " she said. "This is what we have done for our own projections."

Manatee County students graded below the state average while remaining largely on par with previous yearly results, said Cynthia Saunders, deputy superintendent of instruction.

"Of course we're hoping each year to do better, to improve and right now that is our bar to at least exceed the state performance," Saunders said. "In some areas and in some schools we're doing that and it's our charge to support what we need to support so that all our of schools are successful."

Other projected results:

Manatee County has 14 A schools, seven B schools, nine C schools, 10 D schools and six F schools.

Six schools moved up one letter grade or more on the new test scores, while 17 schools dropped at least one letter grade.

Half of all schools -- 23 -- kept the same grade.

Two schools did not test at least 95 percent of students and were not graded. One school is under review.

In third-grade English language arts, 47 percent of Manatee County students passed the exam by earning a level three or higher. Statewide, 53 percent passed. Last year, 57 percent passed using the Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test.

In third-grade math, 50 percent of Manatee County students passed. Statewide, 58 percent passed. Last year, 58 percent passed FCAT.

In fourth-grade English language arts, 52 percent of Manatee County students passed. Statewide, 54 percent passed. Last year, 61 percent passed FCAT.

In fourth-grade math, 58 percent of Manatee County students passed. Statewide, 59 percent passed. Last year, 63 percent passed FCAT.

In fifth-grade English language arts, 52 percent of Manatee County students passed. Statewide, 52 percent passed. Last year, 61 percent passed FCAT.

In fifth-grade math, 56 percent of Manatee County students passed. Statewide, 55 percent passed. Last year, 56 percent passed FCAT.

In sixth-grade English language arts, 47 percent of Manatee County students passed. Statewide, 51 percent passed. Last year, 60 percent passed FCAT.

In sixth-grade math, 49 percent of Manatee County students passed. Statewide, 50 percent passed. Last year, 53 percent passed FCAT.

In seventh-grade English language arts, 47 percent of Manatee County students passed. Statewide, 51 percent passed. Last year, 57 percent passed FCAT.

In seventh-grade math, 52 percent of Manatee County students passed. Statewide, 52 percent passed. Last year, 56 percent passed FCAT.

In eighth-grade English language arts, 50 percent of Manatee County students passed. Statewide, 55 percent passed. Last year, 57 percent passed FCAT.

In eighth-grade math, 51 percent of Manatee County students passed. Statewide, 45 percent passed. Last year, 47 percent passed FCAT.

In ninth-grade English language arts, 46 percent of Manatee County students passed. Statewide, 53 percent passed. Last year, 53 percent passed FCAT.

In algebra I, 53 percent of Manatee County students passed. Statewide, 56 percent passed. Last year, 66 percent passed FCAT.

In 10th-grade English language arts, 47 percent of Manatee County students passed. Statewide, 51 percent passed. Last year, 55 percent passed FCAT.

In geometry, 51 percent of Manatee County students passed. Statewide, 53 percent passed. Last year, 64 percent passed FCAT.

In algebra 2, 42 percent of Manatee County students passed. Statewide, 36 percent passed. There were no FCAT scores.

Meghin Delaney, education reporter, can be reached at 941-745-7081. Follow her on Twitter @MeghinDelaney.

This story was originally published January 8, 2016 at 11:52 PM with the headline "Manatee County School District student scores still off state average after State Board of Education releases new test info ."