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Key West-Monroe County EducationSee article at the bottom showing Monroe was at the top of the list with a 3.92 GPA; the second-highest, Brevard County, had a 3.87 GPA. Monroe County is totally dedicated to good education. The school district
offers a first class educational system to all its residents. With over 1500
employees Private schools Monroe tops in its class Monroe County schools this year collectively earned the highest grade point average in the state, besting more than 65 other school districts, Schools Superintendent Randy Acevedo said. Educators, however, think it's time to compare county student achievement with other scores nationally. Monroe was at the top of the list with a 3.92 GPA; the second-highest, Brevard
County, had a 3.87 GPA. "When you look at the grades in a GPA format, we had the best performance statewide this past year," Acevedo said. "I am very proud of our staff, students, parents and community — it takes a team and a village." It's the latest indication that county schoolchildren are performing well on standardized tests and improving scores; recent Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test (FCAT) results reflected higher scores in reading, writing, math and science. Third-graders, for instance, showed increases as high as 32 points at some schools in reading and math; 81 percent of the county's third-graders were reading at or above grade level. Upper grades also showed increases in test scores, with some schools showing more improvement than others. The high scores have renewed calls by School Board members to take students to the next step by comparing Monroe County scores nationally, not just in-state. "We have had discussions at the board table that these Florida standards are not stringent enough," member Debra Walker said, "and that we should compare our progress to national and international standards. Now we are free to set new goals based on even tougher criteria." The scores in the Florida school report card program and FCAT results often clash with the federal government's annual yearly progress measurement under No Child Left Behind. That is the level of improvement each schoolchild is expected to reach year to year in reading, math and other subjects. Though Florida may rate schools as "A" performers, the federal Education Department designates those same schools as "F" performers for failing to reach annual yearly progress under No Child Left Behind. In 2006, 712 schools that Florida considered "A" performers were listed as "F" schools. Though Standard & Poor's education analysts rate Monroe students' reading proficiency in 2008 at 62.5 percent and writing proficiency at 67.7 percent, the county still isn't meeting annual yearly progress targets under federal No Child Left Behind requirements, S&P reports. As in other states, Florida has a student testing regime — FCAT — that's similar to the one mandated by No Child Left Behind. Under the federal program, "F"-rated schools that don't improve over several years can be closed or turned into charter schools or put under a state's direct control. The FCAT testing regime launched under former Gov. Jeb Bush in 2002 in effect puts Florida schools out of the federal government's reach. FCAT also is a better measure of Florida student success, the former governor has said. Still, Monroe's "A" school ratings are nothing to sneeze at, said School Board member John Dick. "It is great news for our schools and district," Dick said. "It is a job well-done by all the personnel involved, and of course, our students." Being at the top of the state school GPA scorecard gives the county some financial rewards, Dick said. "The state has what is called school recognition funds, and "A"-rated schools receive $85 per student as a bonus," he said. "Schools have discretion with how they use the money, but [most schools] use it to give staff members a bonus." jguerra@keysnews.com
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