Last night, the Escambia County Children’s Trust board meeting reviewed academic progress across Escambia County Public School District (ECPS), with data showing improvements in multiple schools through targeted community partnerships and student support programs.
District Performance Results
School Superintendent Keith Leonard reported that “86% of our 50-plus schools improved” this year, with the district achieving “16 A’s, 18 B’s and 16 C’s.” The superintendent acknowledged both gains and challenges, noting that “we ended up with two D’s,” including Global Learning Academy, which was “one point from maintaining the C.”
- Leonard emphasized the comprehensive nature of the district’s work: “Our county, our citizens, and most importantly our teachers and our students should be very proud of the accomplishments that have been made over a significant period of time.”
Trust-Funded Programs’ Impact
Trust Executive Director Lindsey Cannon reported that students in Trust-funded SAIL programs “would be one point from an A” if their performance were applied school-wide, compared to their schools’ overall grades.
- Cannon explained the program’s selection criteria: “They tend to target the lower quartile kids for that particular program or ones that have challenging needs at home.”
- The Children’s Home Society (CHS) in Escambia County offers several programs, including those under the SAIL (Success After Initial Learning) initiative, which focuses on providing services like tutoring, mentoring, and social skills training. Specifically, the SAIL Academy at C.A. Weis Elementary School offers after-school programs for children aged 5-10.
DIG DEEPER: Escambia County has three Community Partnership Schools—C.A. Weis Elementary (since 2015), Bellview Middle (since 2024) and Pine Forest High (since 2023). Bellview Middle saw its grade improve from a “C” to a “B.” Pine Forest High’s grade remained a “C,” but its graduation rate improved 4 points from 81% to 85%.
However, C.A. Weis Elementary saw a steep drop, going from one point shy of a “B” grade in 2024 to a low C this year. The most significant drops were in Math Learning Gains and gains among the lowest 25% in English Language Arts (ELA) and Math.
| C.A. Weiss Elementary | 2024 | 2025 | Difference |
| Grade 3 ELA | 34 | 34 | 0 |
| ELA Achievements | 31 | 34 | 3 |
| ELA Gains | 48 | 48 | 0 |
| ELA Gains – lowest 25% | 74 | 63 | -11 |
| Math Achievements | 43 | 35 | -8 |
| Math Learning Gains | 67 | 46 | -21 |
| Math Gains- Lowest 25% | 69 | 52 | -17 |
| Science Achievement | 49 | 43 | -6 |
| Total Points Earned | 415 | 355 | -60 |
| Percent of Possible Pts | 52 | 44 | -8 |
| School Grade | C | C |
Healthy Schools Initiative Update
The healthy schools initiative, launched in November, is implementing services across participating schools. Cannon reported that programs had to “hire up” and complete planning processes, but “dental, medical, all those things, they really started those out.”
The Trust is expanding this model to additional schools. Superintendent Leonard indicated that “I think we’ve determined where we hope the next two healthy schools will be. If I remember correctly, that would be Brentwood and West Pensacola.” The district plans to “partner with the Trust to be able to go to at least six schools in 26, 27.”
DIG DEEPER: The two schools slated for the first year were Global Learning Academy and O.J. Semmes Elementary. Based on Cannon’s report, the academic programs haven’t been implement. Semmes saw a 1-point improvement, 43%-44%, and Global saw a 6-point drop, 46%-40%. Semmes remained a “C” and Global dropped to a “D.”
Here is the comparison of 2024 to 2025 scores:
| Semmes | 2024 | 2025 | Difference |
| Grade 3 ELA | 36 | 30 | -6 |
| ELA Achievements | 30 | 26 | -4 |
| ELA Gains | 46 | 48 | 2 |
| ELA Gains – lowest 25% | 71 | 80 | 9 |
| Math Achievements | 28 | 34 | 6 |
| Math Learning Gains | 44 | 42 | -2 |
| Math Gains- Lowest 25% | 64 | 63 | -1 |
| Science Achievement | 26 | 25 | -1 |
| Total Points Earned | 345 | 348 | 3 |
| Percent of Possible Pts | 43 | 44 | 1 |
| School Grade | C | C | |
| Global | 2024 | 2025 | Difference |
| Grade 3 ELA | 32 | 38 | 6 |
| ELA Achievements | 34 | 37 | 3 |
| ELA Gains | 56 | 49 | -7 |
| ELA Gains – lowest 25% | 70 | 52 | -18 |
| Math Achievements | 29 | 26 | -3 |
| Math Learning Gains | 50 | 40 | -10 |
| Math Gains- Lowest 25% | 61 | 36 | -25 |
| Science Achievement | 36 | 38 | 2 |
| Total Points Earned | 368 | 316 | -52 |
| Percent of Possible Pts | 46 | 40 | -6 |
| School Grade | C | D |
School Performance Examples
School Board Chair David Williams highlighted specific improvements, noting: “Monclair, a B, and two years ago they were an F. In two years, they’ve turned it around.”
- He stated that this demonstrates “public education is the best choice for students and our youth in Escambia County.”
Williams also noted Pensacola High School’s B grade, expressing personal connection to the school: “All if you know my whole life was at Pensacola High School. So that’s near and dear to my heart and really proud of what they’re doing.”
Budget Challenges and Federal Funding
Superintendent Leonard reported federal funding reductions affecting mental health programs: “Currently the mental health allocation for your school district is frozen by the federal government[…] in three business days, your school district was told that it was going to be minus $4.6 million.”
This funding challenge underscores the importance of local partnerships, as Leonard noted: “It is critical that we continue to strive and do the things that we can as a community and work together like we’ve been doing.”