Florida has taken a leading role in the US education landscape with a significant increase in the number of schools earning A and B grades in the state’s education accountability system. Data released by the Florida Department of Education revealed that more than 2,400 schools across the state achieved one of the top two grades, marking an important milestone in Florida’s public education performance.According to the data, 1,526 schools earned an A grade, up from 1,299 last year. Meanwhile, 935 schools received a B grade, an increase from 916 schools in the previous academic year. These gains reflect a steady improvement in school performance statewide, positioning Florida as a notable example of rising academic standards in the US.Statewide increase in A and B grades highlights Florida’s progressThe 2025 school grading results show that over 70% of Florida schools were rated either A or B, a key indicator of improved education outcomes. The number of schools receiving a D or F grade decreased substantially compared to last year. Only 71 schools earned a D or F, compared to 117 the previous year, underscoring a decline in underperforming schools.Gov. Ron DeSantis praised the report during a news conference at Oceanway Elementary School in Jacksonville, which itself improved from a C to an A grade. He said, as quoted by the Tampa Bay Times, “Nearly 200,000 more students are enrolled in A or B schools in the past academic year than in the previous year.” DeSantis attributed these gains to Florida’s progress monitoring system, which tests students three times annually and provides teachers, students, and parents with real-time feedback to support learning improvements.District breakdown shows regional improvementsThe statewide improvements were also reflected in several school districts in the Tampa Bay region. Pinellas County maintained its overall A rating for the second consecutive year, with 60% of its schools earning A grades, including notable advances at Bardmoor and North Shore elementary schools, which moved from C to A, and Lakewood High School, which improved from B to A.Hillsborough and Pasco counties both received B district grades. Hillsborough reported 88 schools earning A grades, with 13 schools moving up from B grades and three schools improving from C grades, including Kenly Elementary and Mendenhall Elementary. Pasco saw 31 schools attain A grades, an increase from 25 the previous year, though it still had some struggling campuses with eight D-rated schools and one F-rated school.
Source: Florida Department of EducationResponses to grading results and ongoing challengesDespite the progress, some Florida lawmakers criticized the grading system. At least one Republican legislator described the grades as “fake,” questioning the accuracy of the evaluation method. The Florida Citizens Alliance, a conservative advocacy group, pushed for reforms to make the grading system more stringent, arguing that the current model overstates school performance.Keith Flaugh, CEO of the Florida Citizens Alliance, told the Tampa Bay Times, “Modest improvements in a failing school system are irrelevant. We need to change our grading system to reflect a world-class, competitive, high-quality system.” The group also pointed to Florida’s SAT scores, which rank 47th nationally, as evidence that there is still substantial room for improvement.On the other hand, the Florida Education Association, the state’s teachers union, cautioned against relying too heavily on high-stakes testing. Its president, Andrew Spar, emphasized the need for increased investment in schools, including smaller class sizes and better teacher training, as reported by the Tampa Bay Times.State education officials highlight policies behind gainsEducation Commissioner Anastasios Kamoutsas credited the state’s policies, including a focus on fundamentals and parental rights, for the improvements. He noted that hundreds of thousands of students have benefited from the governor’s education initiatives, reinforcing Florida’s commitment to raising academic achievement.Kamoutsas said, according to the Tampa Bay Times, “Florida schools are improving across the board,” underscoring the administration’s efforts to remove “woke indoctrination” and focus on academic basics.TOI Education is on WhatsApp now. Follow us here.
