2010-2011 School Grades are out

[beachmouse]

http://schoolgrades.fldoe.org/default.asp

Or at least most of the grades have been posted. Schools that have 9th-12 grades are still listed as pending, though you can make a fairly educated guess on what the letter grade will be since they still give you a point total for those schools.

Bay Elementary- A- 641 points
Butler Elementary- A- 612 points
Emerald Coast Middle- A- 599 points
Seaside Neighborhood- A-700 points
South Walton High School- pending- 505 points

Freeport Elementary- A- 580 points
Freeport Middle- A- 604 points
Freeport High- pending- 516 points

Ratings also include school lunch percentages at each school, which is a proxy for parental SES, and can give you a rough idea of if a school is under or overperforming compared to other schools with similar demographics.

 

[melscuba]

Why such a drop in points with SWHS?? This is the one thing that keeps us hesitating on a full time move. I just can't get my head around the quality of SWHS. Am I overly concerned, or does SWHS need some overhauling? I toggle back and forth in my opinion (as compared to our local high school which ranks around 330 (out of the top 1,000 high schools) in the nation. Not that those rankings mean everything. Hence, my fence sitting (seems to be a favorite place for me)

 

[Tigertail]

South Walton should make up ground in points due to the dual enrollment and AP classes. There are several other factors that make up a High School grade other than the FCAT test.

 

[melscuba]

Are they now offering AP classes? It was my understanding those were not offered because the demand wasn't there. And the dual enrollment is with the college next door right??

 

[SGB]

Are they now offering AP classes? It was my understanding those were not offered because the demand wasn't there. And the dual enrollment is with the college next door right??

Yes, SWHS does offer AP classes and has for at least 4 years, and probably longer. The demand is definitely there and they are trying to offer more every year and quite a few were added for this coming school year. In fact, I'm a little afraid that my child has signed up for too many AP classes at one time for this coming school year! The AP classes are mostly for the juniors and seniors, but a sophomore could take one or two. I have seen improvements at the high school every year, especially this last year, when we had a new Principal and Vice Principal. I'm afraid of what budget cuts might do, but I feel that if you push for advanced classes and take advantage of the college next door, your child can get a good education. You'll probably have to be more involved in your child's education and college prep and application process than you would at a big school.

 

[melscuba]

Thanks so much for the information. The AP offerings is what I wanted to hear, with more on the way. I think this generation's education is just very different than it used to be. My parents sent me off to school with little academic involvement once we hit junior high (now middle school). I think anywhere you are, you have to help maneuver your child through the web these days. What I am hoping SWHS offers is an academically competitive environment. One where the kids excel with expectations of college in their future. I don't need my child to be at the top (I'm not a tiger mom... I swear). I want the general expectation for them, and their friends, to be high school is a stair step in their education... college is the next. I also want to know SWHS will prepare the girls for college life (i.e., independent study, how to study, what it takes to succeed, etc.). I like what you had to say SGB. Here's to continued progress for SWHS and its students.

 

[Jdarg]

I agree with SGB. And the SWHS class of 2011 has many graduates that were accepted to multiple competitive colleges and universities, many with big scholarships offers. There has been a lot of improvement at SWHS, but there is definitely room for more in terms of the expectations for these kids after high school. Our demographic here in SoWal has a high percentage of families whose children will be going to college, and the high school needs some major improvements in this area- only recently has atmosphere at the high school started shifting from the goal of getting a high school diploma to the diploma being the beginning of the education process. The former principal actually told us that it was not his job to get the kids into college, but just graduate them from high school- thankfully that mindset is not shared by the current administration and the positive changes just this year were encouraging.

Bdarg and I always talk about the idea of SWHS being a college prep magnet-type school. It is time our schools in South Walton reflect the needs and wants of the population down here.