The Florida Department of Education has been grading the school districts based on their FCAT scores since 2003-2004 school year. In 2009-2010 school year, Escambia County Public School District had one of its worse rankings in comparison to other Florida counties. The district ranked 52 out of 67 counties, putting it in the bottom 25 percent –a reversal of a two-year trend.
The decline may only be a one-year blip, but how can you blame teachers? Did the district have really bad teachers in 2010 and 2007? Did the district fire all the “low FCAT” teachers in 2007 and replace them with better ones? If so, then how can you say tenure is the problem? Did the district have more students in poverty in 2007 and 2010?
School Year
2010 Rank: 52 District Grade: C
2009 Rank: 46 District Grade: B
2008 Rank: 47 District Grade: B
2007 Rank: 57 District Grade: C
2006 Rank: 43 District Grade: B
2005 Rank: 48 District Grade: C
2004 Rank: 54 District Grade: C
Should the Superintendent of Schools and School Board resign since the District Grade dropped? Maybe they should be on the merit system, too.