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Florida’s growing public school system is leading the nation in
prioritizing and raising student achievement. Through the Florida
Comprehensive Assessment Test (FCAT), the state has implemented
high standards for all public schools, and the payoff is evident
here in Central Florida. Here are “the facts” about our region’s
four school districts.
Orange County Public Schools
- Serves a diverse population that includes urban (Orlando),
suburban and even rural communities; 132 languages or dialects are
spoken by students.
- By every measure, student achievement in this growing county
compares very well to other large, urban districts, and to the
surrounding suburban counties in Central Florida.
- Overall, in 2008, earned an “A” district grade from the state
Department of Education, one of just three urban districts in
Florida to receive the top grade. District grades are based on FCAT
results of all students tested in the district.
- In 2008, a total of 126 schools (74%) were high-performers,
earning “A” or “B” grades, based on FCAT results in reading, math,
writing and science.
- In 2008, results of FCAT testing indicate more students are
equal to or better in their grade-level learning proficiency than
at any time in the ten year history of testing.
- The number of Advanced Placement (AP) tests taken by students
has increased 84% in the past two years alone.
- 15 of the 18 high schools made Newsweek magazine's
2008 “Top of the Class” list placing them among the top five
percent of schools in the country based on breadth of rigorous
academic programs.
- Total of 626 nationally certified teachers, the profession’s
highest credential.
- Overall, in 2008, earned an A+ grade from Fitch Ratings
reflecting the sound financial management and reserve levels that
led to $99.4 million certificates of participation in 2008. The
region’s diversifying local economy also was noted as a contributor
to this strong rating.
Seminole County Public Schools
- Rated among the best in the state of Florida and among the top
100 school districts nationwide.
- Consistently recognized as an “A” Florida school district, with
93%of all schools awarded either an “A” or “B” rating in 2008.
- All eight four-year high schools are included in
Newsweek’s “Top High School List”, which ranks schools in
the top 5 percent of the nation based on AP/IB participation.
- In 2008, the graduation rate was 91.1%, ranking #6 in the
state.
- For the past 30 years, SAT scores have consistently exceeded
state and national averages.
- More than 80% of high school graduates go on to higher
education.
- Over 46% of teachers have a doctorate, specialist or master’s
degree, exceeding the national average.
- Spent more than $454 million on renovation of existing, and
construction of new, schools in the past ten years and more than
$42 million on technology for the schools and classrooms in the
past five years.
- Over 24,500 volunteers donated 484,000 hours to 61 schools
serving students from kindergarten through high school. This
represents over $9.4 million worth of services donated to our
schools by the community.
- Named an “Academically High-Performing School District” in the
2007-2008 school year, one of only ten school districts so named by
the Florida Department of Education.
- Recipient of the 2008 Seminole County Regional Chamber of
Commerce Lifetime Achievement Award.
Lake County Public Schools
- Serves a student population totaling 40,996. Although it may be
the smallest in terms of student population in the four counties,
its success has been repeated time and again.
- Planning a Science Health Magnet High School, in partnership
with Lake Sumter Community College, South Lake Hospital and the
National Training Center, that would help students earn a diploma
and medical related associate degree while in high school.
- 83% received a grade of "A" or "B" based on the state's A+
grading system.
- Overall, rated an "A" based on reading and math FCAT scores. 15
schools improved their overall school grade by at least one letter
grade.
- The number of Advanced Placement (AP) tests taken by students
has increased 70% in the past two years alone.
- Over 38% of the teachers have a doctorate, specialist or
master's degree.
- Notably, the graduation rate is at 75%, above the state's
average.
- Continues to provide state-of-the-art facilities for its
students, and opened Saw Grass Bay Elementary and Grassy Lake
Elementary in 2007-2008, along with two replacement schools,
Mascotte Charter Elementary and Lake Hills School. East Ridge
Middle School in Clermont opened for the 2008-2009 school
year.
- Upcoming projects include a new elementary school in the
Sorrento-Mt. Plymouth area, a new high school in south Lake County,
and a replacement middle school in Groveland.
Osceola County Public Schools
- Awarded the District Accreditation of Colleges and Schools
(SACS).
- Rated a “B” based on reading and math FCAT scores.
- Notably, 100% of the elementary schools improved their FCAT-SSS
Reading Mean Scale Scores for third grade students when compared to
the prior year, while 100% of Osceola County middle and high
schools achieved scores of 3.5 or higher on FCAT Writing+.
- Two schools were recognized on Newsweek magazine’s
annual list of Top 1,200 schools.
- Named a “Super System for Quality Schools” by the Southern
Association of Colleges and Schools. This rating indicates
that all eligible elementary, middle and secondary schools earned
accreditation status.
- Nine schools recognized by the Florida Department of
Education as either a “Top High-Performing School” or a “Top
School For Making Progress”.
- In an effort to recruit and retain the highest quality
teachers, provided the highest teacher salary package in Central
Florida for the 2006-2007 school year.
- Osceola County ranks best-in-state in terms of administrative
expenditures per student.
Technology Magnet Programs
Throughout Metro Orlando, magnet programs have been established
within high schools to provide opportunities for students to engage
in intensive study in specific areas. These programs allow
students at an early age to explore careers and to develop skills
in broad disciplines including engineering, science, and
technology, as well as in specializations such as microelectronics
engineering, simulation applications, aviation and aerospace
engineering and global information and future technologies.
Acceptance is required to the magnet programs, which attract top
students from throughout the school districts. In fact, the
popularity of the magnet concept has led to development of
prototype programs as early as the elementary school level.
Academies of Information Technology
To address the national need for increased emphasis on integrating
technology into K-12 curriculum, the National Academy Foundation
has established a rigorous network of Academy of Information
Technology (AoIT) programs in our nation's high schools. In Orange
County, the AoITs operate as schools-within-schools and are at the
following high schools: Apopka, Boone, Colonial, Cypress Creek,
Timber Creek, University and Winter Park. Seminole County runs its
single AoIT, Crooms Academy of Information Technology, as a magnet
school for the entire district.
Local school boards work closely with the National Academy
Foundation to ensure that curriculums address the needs of our
region's local tech companies and that access to the program is
available to qualified students from throughout the district.
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