There is a lot to consider when purchasing a new home, but location is arguably the most important factor. And it’s not just about the local crime rates or proximity to shops. If you have kids, or plan on having kids, the quality of the local schools needs to be considered.
In Florida, school performance and grades can vary dramatically from district to district. Some of the most sought-after areas in Florida also tend to have poorer quality schools.
According to data from the Florida Department of Education, the 10 best school districts with the highest grades are:
1. St. Johns: A or 71%
2. Gilchrist: A or 69%
3. Lafayette: A or 67%
4. Nassau: A or 67%
5. Okaloosa: A or 67%
6. Sarasota: A or 67%
7. Clay: A or 66%
8. Walton: A or 66%
9. Collier: A or 65%
10. Santa Rosa: A or 65%
School districts are assigned a letter grade of A, B, C, D or F annually. The district grade is an overall measure of the student performance within that district. Individual schools also receive a grade, which can be used as a metric to measure the performance of school.
Parents and the public can use the school grade and district grade to understand how well each school and district is serving its students. The grading system focuses on student success measures, such as achievement, learning gains, graduation, acceleration success, and maintaining a focus on students who need the most support.
When it comes to the 10 worst school districts, these include:
1. Jefferson: C or 46%
2. Franklin: C or 47%
3. Hamilton: C or 48%
4. Desoto: C or 49%
5. Madison: C or 50%
6. Putnam: C or 51%
7. Gadsden: C or 52%
8. Highlands: C or 52%
9. Holmes: C or 52%
10. Bradford: C or 53%
Still, Florida overall earns high scores compared to other states in the U.S. In September, it was announced that Florida ranked fourth in the nation for K-12 student achievement.
The annual report compares state-by-state data and trends related to achievement levels, achievement gains, poverty gap, achieving excellence, high school graduation and Advanced Placement.
“Maintaining a top national ranking for student achievement for the second year in a row is a testament to our educators and students,” said Governor Ron DeSantis
“The investments and policy changes we made this year in education will only continue to ensure our students’ success, regardless of income or zip code.”
