Manatee County Schools Improve FCAT Scores

MANATEE COUNTY – The percentage of Manatee District considered proficient in reading, math, writing and science grew in 13 of 20 grade-level categories tested, according to 2010 Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test results released by the Florida Department of Education.

FCAT scores are grouped in five different achievement levels – from a low of Level 1 to a high of Level 5. Students scoring Level 3 or higher are considered to be proficient, according to Sunshine State Standards.

In writing and science, the percentage of Manatee District students scoring at achievement Levels 3, 4 and 5 rose in every grade level tested compared to last year’s FCAT results. Students in Florida are only tested in writing in the fourth, eighth and 10th grades. Florida students are only tested in science in fifth, eighth and 11th grades.

In writing, the percentage of fourth-graders scoring at or above grade level increased 13 percentage points compared to the previous year (from 79% in 2009 to 92% in 2010). In eighth grade, Manatee students improved their writing scores by nine percentage points (86% to 95%); and in 10th grade writing, scores improved by 22 percentage points (71% to 93%).

In science, the percentage of Manatee District students scoring at grade level or above in fifth grade rose by two percentage points (from 41% in 2009 to 43% in 2010); in eighth-grade science Manatee students increased one percentage point (37% to 38%); and in 11th grade science, local scores rose by two percentage points (35% to 37%).

In math, the percentage of Manatee District students scoring at grade level or above increased in sixth grade (47% to 52%); in seventh grade (53% to 54%); eighth grade (62% to 64%); and 10th grade (65% to 72%). The percentage of Manatee District fifth graders scoring at grade level in math remained at 56%.

In reading, the percentage of Manatee District students scoring at grade level or above increased in seventh grade (64% to 66%); in ninth grade (44% to 47%); and 10th grade (34% to 35%).

”We are always striving to improve as a school district, so it is pleasing to see that in the majority of areas tested, Manatee District students continue to show improvements,“ said Dr. Louis Robison, Executive Director of School Improvement and Accountability. ”We will fully analyze these results and use them to help us continue to raise student scores across our district.“