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MIAMI-DADE’S SCHOOL GRADES GET A BIG BOOST MIAMI – School performance grades for Miami-Dade County’s public schools saw a dramatic rise this year, with a record number of A grades. Fifty-eight percent of the District’s schools received A’s for the 2008-2009 school year, and 90 percent of the schools received performance grades of A, B, or C, while D and F grades decreased across the District. Among the District’s success stories were five high schools that were lifted off the F list, after having received multiple failing grades for years. The schools were on the District’s critical list of Differentiated Accountability schools that faced serious sanctions, including closure, by the Florida Department of Education, if they did not improve their scores. “This is the progress that our community has been waiting for,” said Superintendent of Schools Alberto M. Carvalho. “This shows that the dedicated teamwork of teachers, principals, parents and students can overcome years of poverty, language barriers and illiteracy.” To help the schools, Superintendent Carvalho initiated the Success Academy model, which offered students special tutoring on Saturdays and holidays to help them improve their scores. Other Success Academy schools did exceptionally well, including Liberty City Elementary, which moved from an F to an A, and Holmes Elementary, which moved from an F to a C. # # # 09-JJS/474/ |
