St. Johns County, which includes St. Augustine, is ranked first. Impoverished Madison County, where more than 70 percent of the students qualify for free or reduced-price lunches, ranked last among the state's 67 school districts.
Charlotte County is ranked 21st in the state.
"We are pleased that the Florida Department of Education has ranked the Sarasota County School District as one of the best in the state," said Superintendent Lori White in a press statement. "This recognition is a testament to the hard work of students, teachers, administrators, parents and volunteers. Community support also has been a key factor in the success of our public schools, and we are very grateful."
The rankings are based on test scores from the Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test in reading, math, science and writing. The formula also looks at whether districts are able to make progress with struggling students.
"Ranking districts and schools based on data-driven results demonstrates Florida's focus on ensuring students receive a high quality education and provides another helpful tool for parents, educators and taxpayers," said Florida Education Commissioner Gerard Robinson. He said the ranking is designed to start a conversation, not stigmatize those districts at the bottom of the list.
Reported in Sarasota Herald Tribune
Published: Monday, January 23, 2012 at 1:07 p.m.
