Sarasota Third-Graders Outpace Florida in FCAT Results

Sarasota third-graders outpace their peers across Florida in reading and math, according to FCAT results released Friday.

The results were among the highest among counties in the Sunshine State.

• 68 percent of Sarasota County third-graders were at or above grade level in math;
• 71 percent of the third-graders scored at or above grade level on the reading portion of the test.
• Pine View scored the highest with 99 percent of third-graders proficient in reading and in math.

Across Florida, 57 percent of third-graders were at or above grade level in reading, and 58 percent met or exceeded the standards in math.

Overall, Sarasota's scores also are slightly higher than results in 2012.

St. Johns County had the highest percentage of students reading at or above grade level, at 76 percent. Santa Rosa had 75 percent. Both Calhoun and Sarasota counties were at 71 percent.

Dixie and Union counties had the highest percentage of students performing at grade level or above in math, at 73 percent. Both Santa Rosa and St. Johns were at 71 percent.

Sarasota County also had a lower percentage of third-graders whose scores put them at risk of being held back. Scoring on the third-grade FCAT is numbered from 1 to 5, with "3" the minimum for students to be considered at grade level and "1" the lowest.

In Sarasota County schools:

• 11 percent of third-graders scored a "1" in math, compared to 18 percent statewide;
• 10 percent of third-graders scored a "1" in reading, compared to 18 percent statewide.

Here is a look at the percentage of third-graders scoring at or above grade level in reading and math in some Sarasota elementary schools:

Alta Vista: 53 percent in reading, 65 percent in math;

Pine View: 99 percent in reading, 99 percent in math;

Bay Haven: 73 percent in reading, 68 percent in math;

Suncoast: 57 percent in reading, 49 percent in math;

Island Village: 81 percent in reading, 65 percent in math;

Sarasota Suncoast: 85 percent in reading, 77 percent in math.

See the attached pdf files for individual school scores in Sarasota County and the state.

Florida’s passage rates have dropped after exams were changed and a more rigorous scoring system implemented.

Teacher evaluations are partially based on students’ FCAT scores.

School letter grades are set to be released in July,

Students’ individual FCAT results will be distributed to parents by schools later.

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