School district: Almost an ‘A’

The Jackson County School District may have made a “B” in its overall school grade, but it was just one point from getting an “A.”
Superintendent Lee Miller said he’s “extremely proud of the district’s FCAT scores as a whole.”
“There is much work to be done, but improvements are on the way. Strategies are already in place to address the weak areas,” Miller was quoted saying in a written statement.
Two Jackson County schools increased a letter grade — Cottondale Elementary, from “B” to “A”; and Graceville High School, from “B” to “A.”
The top-scoring school in the district this year is Sneads Elementary School, having earned an “A” from the state and also making Adequate Yearly Progress, a federal measurement.
“Sneads Elementary is proud and excited to receive the news of achieving an “A” grade and making Adequate Yearly Progress,” SES Principal Cheryl McDaniel said in a written statement. “The 618 total points earned are the most in school history. Staff, students and families have worked very hard collaboratively and make sure that the curriculum is mapped so that all skills are taught in a timely manner in order to have students prepared for FCAT. This mapping and collaboration in not just in FCAT grades, but in the early grades as it takes all teachers working together to build what will happen in grades three to five. Students are asked to process and retain much academic information and they continue, year after year, to rise to the challenge. Parents stay on top of students’ academic progress and assist through homework assignments. The total school staff understands that an important part of the mission of the school is to help each student achieve academically at the highest level and they are willing to do whatever it takes to accomplish this. Good curriculum; scheduling that is geared to academics and timed on task; before and after school remediation classes; and differentiated instruction to meet individual needs all contribute to the success.”
For its ninth consecutive year, Marianna Middle School earned an “A.”
MMS Principal Dr. Gayle Westbrook said she’s pleased to note that the school’s “tradition of excellence is the result of a total program designed to meet the needs of the middle school student.”
“Much care and planning is given to address not only the instructional needs of each student, but also to nurture the emotional, physical and social needs of MMS students, as well,” Westbrook said. “Taken all together, these work to create a positive environment where students enjoy opportunities to participate in outstanding music, sports and club and school activities which help make learning fun. With the support of enthusiastic teachers, dedicated parents, district office personnel and community members, Marianna Middle School consistently works toward high academic achievement for all students.”
Graceville High School — the district’s only high school to make an “A” — is one of only 68 high schools in the state to receive an “A.” It was 21 points short of an “A” in the last year of DOE grades.
“It was an answer to a prayer,” GHS Assistant Principal Julie Burdeshaw said in a written statement. “Our teachers care about the quality of education our students receive and they care about the student as a person. They support them not only in the classroom but in extracurricular activities. Our school is their second home and we consider everyone family. We also have the support of the parents and community and it makes a difference.”
According to the statement from GHS administrators Chris Franklin and Julie Burdeshaw, GHS revamped the math and science curriculum in the high school, which resulted in a definite score increase for those areas. Science teachers worked to more closely link their lessons and activities with tested Sunshine State Standards.
Cottondale Elementary School also went from a “B: to and “A.”
CES Principal Diane Long said the school staff worked hard to assess data and identify educational needs of the students. Teachers attended specialized workshops, and students were given educational opportunities such as FCAT Saturdays and “an array of innovative instructional strategies.”
“Hats off to the village for a job well done and preparation for the upcoming new year, which begins today after the celebration,” Long said.
She said part of the schools success lies in identifying and holding on to effective strategies and moving on from or revising those that don’t work.
Communication with parents through newsletters home, the PTO, parent night and other means were also a factor in the school’s success, she said.
Riverside Elementary also made an “A.”
“This makes seven “A”s in the past 10 years,” RES Principal John Ellerbee said. “Words cannot express my appreciation for the dedicated efforts the Riverside faculty and staff put forth during the year to reach the highest attainable goals with our students.”
Ellerbee also thanked Golson Elementary faculty and staff. As a kindergarten through second grade school, Golson is considered a “feeder school” to RES.
In the top ten scoring schools in the state, RES scored the third highest, with 598 points, Ellerbee noted.
Schools that made a C were Graceville Elementary School,  which earned a C last year; Cottondale High School, which earned a B last year; Grand Ridge School, which earned a C last year; Sneads High School , which earned an A last year; and Malone High School, which earned a C last year.
Marianna High School made a D.
While school grades are a state-level assessment based on FCAT scores, Adequate Yearly Progress is a federal measurement,  part of the No Child Left Behind Act.
The calculation of AYP incorporates the percentage of students who are at the appropriate grade level per various subgroups. Subgroups are based on race or ethnicity, socioeconomic status, disability and English proficiency.
For a school to make AYP this year, it had to have all subgroups at at 65 percent grade level in reading, 68 percent in math and one percent in writing.
DOE reported that only 23 percent of the state’s public schools made AYP this year.
All but four schools in the district earned 90 percent or higher toward AYP: Cottondale, Graceville, Marianna and Sneads High School.
Graceville Elementary School earned 97 percent; Cottondale Elementary and Riverside Elementary earned 95 percent; Grand Ridge School earned 92 percent; and Malone School and Marianna Middle School earned 90 percent.