MANATEE COUNTY – With additional FCAT scores released last week, Manatee County schools are still performing below state average in most grades in both math and reading. As has been the trend, there are some very bright spots in a district which continues to be plagued by too many schools that are performing far below acceptable levels.

Last month, the district learned that less than half of 3rd graders at its schools are performing at grade level for reading or math, as Manatee Schools finished 8 percent lower than the statewide average of 57 percent of 3rd grade students at grade level for the two subjects. 4th, 8th and 10th grade students who must take writing exams were also below statewide levels.

Last Friday, the district got some good news when it learned that students eclipsed state averages in Geometry and Biology 1 End of Course Exams, along with 8th grade Science and 8th grade Math.

70 percent of Manatee District students who took the End of Course Exam for Geometry scored at or above the proficiency level compared to 63 percent statewide. In the Biology 1 End of Course Exam, Manatee District students bettered the state average by 3 percentage points (69 percent proficient in Manatee County/66 percent statewide). In Algebra 1, Manatee students finished below state averages with 56 percent passing the test, compared to 58 percent statewide.

5th and 8th Grade Math and Science

In 5th grade science, 45 percent of Manatee students scored were proficient, 8 percent below the state average, but a 3 point improvement over last year. In 8th grade science, 48 percent of Manatee students were proficient, which was one point higher than the state average and a 7 percent improvement from the year before.

In 8th grade math, the percentage of Manatee District students scoring at the proficiency level was 55, compared to the state average of 51. In 8th grade science, Manatee students outpaced the state average by one point at 48 percent.

6th and 7th Grade Reading and Math

In 6th grade Reading, 55 percent of Manatee students scored proficient compared to the state average of 59. Last year, the percentage of Manatee District 6th graders reading at the proficiency level was 51. In 6th grade Math, 46 percent of Manatee students scored proficient compared to the state average of 52. Last year, the percentage of Manatee District 6th graders proficient in math was 47.

In 7th grade Reading, 55 percent of Manatee students scored proficient compared to the state average of 57. Last year, the percentage of Manatee District 7th graders reading at the proficiency level was 54. In 7th grade Math, 53 percent of Manatee students scored proficient compared to the state average of 55. Last year, the percentage of Manatee District 7th graders proficient in math was 53.

In 9th grade Reading, 53 percent of Manatee students scored proficient, the same as the statewide average and 1 point better than last year.

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Manatee Receives Disappointing FCAT Scores