Below is a scan of the letter sent home with students that attend A.K. Suter Elementary. The letter is to explain the school’s FCAT grade. Principal Russell Queen writes how the school scored better than the district on Reading, Math, and Writing. However, he singles out the African-American and Economically Disadvantaged students:
“At our school, African-American students did not make Adequately Yearly Progress in reading and mathematics. Economically Disadvantaged students did not make Adequately Yearly Progress in Reading.”
Not some, Queen lumps all African-American and Economically Disadvantaged students together. I’ve heard similar letters were sent home at other predominately-white schools.
According to the FDOE, here is how the African-American students at Suter scored:
Third grade had 16 black students: Eight scored 4 in reading; Four scored a 3
Fourth grade had 14 black students: Two scored 4; Five scored 3
Fifth grade had 25 black students: Four scored 4; 11 scored 3
There are 55 black students in grades 3-5. Thirty-four passed with 3s and 4s (62 percent). Do they deserve to be singled out?
In those grades, fourteen white students scored below 3. They aren’t mentioned in the letter…unless those are in the “Economically Disadvantaged” student group.
See the letter: 