List of Grades and Percentages in Florida

The Florida Department of Education releases an annual list of schools that have struggled to reach satisfactory grades, part of the A to F grading system that judges public schools in Florida. This summer, the department sent out a memo to district superintendents notifying them of 100 Florida public schools - out of 22 individual school districts - dubbed “persistently low-performing” for the 2021-22 school year.

According to state data, there are 3,697 public schools in total in Florida. A persistently low-performing school is defined as one that has earned three grades lower than a ‘C’… in at least three of the previous five years and has not earned a grade of ‘B’ or higher in the most recent two school years.

The stakes are high, with concerns that a generation of students could fall behind in their academics at these schools. Many of the students, including minority children, live in poverty. Year after year, dozens of schools are identified as “persistently low-performing,” meaning that state test results, graduation rates, and other key measures are dismal enough for a school to be considered on the brink of failure.

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has been vocal about his support for public education, touting higher starting teacher salaries, restricting certain conversations on race and gender in classrooms, and siding with parents instead of local districts in disagreements. However, it is rare to hear him discuss these persistently low-performing schools or how the state is assisting them.

Senator Tina Polsky, a South Florida Democrat who has served on the Senate’s education committee, told the Phoenix that she’s never seen DeSantis discuss the persistently low-performing schools. This lack of attention and support for struggling schools has raised concerns about the future of these students, particularly those from minority communities who are already at a disadvantage.

The issue is complex and multifaceted, involving poverty, race, and education policy. As the state continues to grapple with this problem, it is essential that policymakers prioritize supporting these schools and their students, rather than simply paying lip service to the issue.

Sources:

* Florida Department of Education

* State data reports

List of grades and percentages in florida