On Wednesday, July 24, 2024 the State Board of Education approved the scales used to determine school grades and soon thereafter, the Florida Department of Education released the 2023-24 preliminary grades.
For the first time in more than a decade, the Putnam County School District does not have any traditional or charter schools graded a D or F. This is evidence that the district has recovered from the learning disruptions of the pandemic and successfully navigated Florida’s recent transition to new standards, new statewide assessments, and a more rigorous school grading scale for its secondary schools.
During Wednesday’s State Board of Education meeting, the State Board approved keeping the elementary grading scale, but adopted a new scale for middle, high and combination schools that increases expectations.
School Grade | Scale Range (Elementary) | Scale Range (Middle, High, and Combination) |
A | 62% - 100% | 64% - 100% |
B | 54% - 61% | 57% - 63% |
C | 41% - 53% | 44% - 56% |
D | 32% - 40% | 34% - 43% |
F | 0% - 31% | 0% - 33% |
Based on the 2024 school grades, The Children’s Reading Center, Melrose Elementary, and Q.I. Roberts Jr.-Sr. High all maintained their A school grades. Putnam Virtual School improved from a B to an A and Kelley Smith Elementary maintained a B. All other schools across the district earned a C school grade. Mellon Learning Center received a school improvement rating of Maintaining.
Superintendent Rick Surrency is pleased with the results. “I’m proud of our teachers and leaders for their efforts to improve our schools despite all of the changes the past few years. We help students achieve proficiency by ensuring they make learning gains multiple years in a row. Learning gains across schools were very high, and that’s how I know our teachers and leaders have the right focus.”
Principal Leah Lundy was in a celebratory mood after learning that Melrose Elementary earned an A grade for the second year in a row. “We are thrilled to see the continued growth of our students while celebrating all of the hard work and dedication given by every person on our campus. This past year we focused on goal setting with our students, and we are excited to see what goals we will crush in the 2024-25 school year!”
The last time Florida transitioned to new standards and statewide assessments was in 2015 and 2016. Back then, the school district struggled with the transition resulting in eleven D and F schools including two charter schools. After the 2017 school grades were released, the district had to submit six Turnaround Option Plans for State Board approval.
Surrency explained the district’s approach like this. “Oftentimes, districts approach turnaround situations with quick fixes. Schools exit turnaround, but the following year they fall right back in. Our efforts in Putnam County have focused on building strong, sustainable, schoolwide systems.”
The district’s recent approach to new standards and assessments has been proactive. Over the past 3 years, millions of dollars have been spent on professional learning for teachers, the adoption of new instructional materials, intervention teachers, and added support for student learning and mental health. This week’s release of school grades demonstrates that the Putnam County School District’s approach is working.
Surrency believes the district is on the right track. “Our school leaders know their next steps. As we get more students achieving at high levels, you’ll see even more A and B schools across Putnam County.”
https://www.fldoe.org/accountability/accountability-reporting/school-grades/