FCAT Scores Better Than Expected By State

While the Sarasota County Schools system touts higher FCAT proficiency than the state, the superintedent recognized a falling off in scores for certain students.

The percentage of Sarasota County public school students scoring as proficient in the FCAT increased at all grade levels in math and at most grade levels in reading, according to results released Tuesday June 5 by the Florida Department of Education.

The results were announced for grades four to eight in reading and mathematics, and grades five and eight in science.

The State Board of Education has established new achievement level standards for FCAT 2.0 reading and mathematics; this is the first time results are being reported according to the new standards.

Superintendent Lori White told The Herald-Tribune that challenges exist for some students:

"Local school officials are now wondering whether high school diplomas could soon be beyond the reach of many students, especially those with learning disabilities or whose first language is not English.

"That minimum proficiency level is a very high bar now," said Sarasota County Superintendent Lori White. "For some students that will be a difficult bar to achieve if they have other issues getting in the way of learning."

In spring 2011, FCAT 2.0 reading and mathematics results were reported as “FCAT-equivalent scores” in order to maintain consistent expectations for student performance during the transition year.

This year, the 2011 scores have been adjusted to illustrate what the scores would have been last year if the new score scale and achievement levels had been approved and implemented at that time.

State Education Commissioner Gerard Robinson released a statement saying that students performed better than expected considering the achievement levels:

"Florida is leading the nation by preparing our children for more challenging Common Core Standards and assessments. I applaud our students and teachers for their inspired efforts," said Education Commissioner Gerard Robinson. "Our state has spent more than a decade reforming public education and we know that sound transition takes time and patience. Florida's children will compete for the jobs of tomorrow and we must do everything possible to ensure that they are ready. We cannot be fearful of change and the ambitious goals set before us. We will meet them together and I am confident that our students are on the path to success."

The reading results for grades three, nine and 10 released earlier in May are included in the information below, combined with the newly announced results for grades four-eight. FCAT science results for grades five and eight also are included.

Results are based on all students tested including charter school students, English-language learners and students with disabilities.

FCAT reading

• Sarasota County students’ average reading scores are 3 to 7 points higher than state averages across grades three to 10.

• The percentage of Sarasota County students scoring as proficient in reading increased in six of eight grade levels. Compared to 2011 adjusted scores, the percentage of students scoring as proficient increased in 2012 at grades four, five, seven, eight, nine and 10, and declined at grades three and six.  

• Compared to the state, Sarasota County 2012 reading proficiency rates are 10 to 13 percentage points higher across grade levels.

FCAT mathematics

• Sarasota County average mathematics scores improved at grades three, four and seven, and remained consistent at grades five, six and eight, compared to 2011. The district’s math average scores are 3 to 7 percentage points higher than average state scores at all grade levels.

• The percentage of Sarasota County students scoring in Achievement Levels 3 or higher in mathematics increased at all grade levels in 2012.   

• Sarasota County’s proficiency rates in mathematics are 5 to 9 points higher than state rates at elementary grade levels and 13 to 14 points higher at middle school grade levels. 

FCAT science

• Sarasota County students score 11 percentage points higher than the state average percentage of students proficient at grades five and eight, but the percentage of district students proficient in science in 2012 declined from 2011 at grades five and eight. 

Reports of district, state and school-by-school summary results are available on the Florida Department of Education website at http://fcat.fldoe.org/fcat2/. 

Table 1. Percentage of Sarasota County and state students in grades three-10 scoring as proficient (Achievement Levels 3-5), for 2011, Adjusted 2011, 2012, and difference in percentage points between 2012 and Adjusted 2011

Sarasota County

State

READING

Percent Proficient

2011

(Original)

Percent Proficient 2011

(Adjusted)

2012

Differ-ence

Percent Proficient 2011

(Original)

Percent Proficient 2011

(Adjusted)

2012

Differ-ence

Grade 3

82%

70%

69%

-1

72%

57%

56%

-1

Grade 4

79%

69%

72%

+3

71%

 59%

62%

+3

Grade 5

81%

72%

73%

+1

69%

58%

61%

+3

Grade 6

79%

72%

69%

-3

67%

58%

57%

-1

Grade 7

77%

69%

70%

+1

68%

 58%

58%

 0

Grade 8

67%

65%

67%

+2

 55%

53%

55%

+2

Grade 9

57%

60%

64%

+4

48%

51%

52%

+1

Grade 10

46%

59%

61%

+2

39%

52%

50%

-2

MATH

Percent Proficient

2011

(Original)

Percent Proficient 2011

(Adjusted)

2012

Differ-ence

Percent Proficient 2011

(Original)

Percent Proficient 2011

(Adjusted)

2012

Differ-ence

Grade 3

  82%

 62%

 67%

 +5

 72%

 56%

58%

+2

Grade 4

 78%

 61%

 65%

 +4

 74%

 58%

60%

+2

Grade 5

 73%

 65%

 66%

 +1

 63%

 56%

57%

+1

Grade 6

 69%

 65%

 67%

 +2

 57%

 53%

53%

0

Grade 7

 73%

 67%

 69%

 +2

 62%

 56%

56%

0

Grade 8

 79%

 70%

 71%

 +1

 68%

 56%

57%

 1

Table 2. Percentage of Sarasota County and state students in grades three-10 scoring as proficient (Achievement Levels 3-5), for 2011, 2012, and difference in percentage points between 2012 and 2011

Sarasota County

State

SCIENCE

Percent Proficient 2011

Percent Proficient 2012

Differ-ence

Percent Proficient 2011

Percent Proficient 2012

Differ-ence

Grade 5

65%

62%

-3

51%

51%

0

Grade 8

60%

57%

-3

46%

46%

0

NOTE: Since the FCAT science cut scores did not change, adjusted scores are not applicable.