The marquee of Largo High School celebrates its distinction as one of nine high schools in Pinellas County that improved its school grade from a B to an A for the 2011-12 school year.
LARGO – Largo High School was one of nine high schools in Pinellas County that improved its school grade from a B to an A for the 2011-12 school year.
Nine of the county’s 16 schools received an A, up from just two last year. The grades, which are based on student achievement and improvements in scores on state assessment tests, were released for high schools by the Florida Department of Education on Dec. 21.
Other schools in Pinellas who improved to an A letter grade from a B were Countryside, Osceola Fundamental, Pinellas Park, St. Petersburg and Tarpon Springs high schools. Boca Ciega High School’s A grade was two-letter improvement over last year’s C. Four county schools – Largo, Boca Ciega, Countryside and Pinellas Park high schools – received an A for the first time.
Superintendent Michael Grego stated in a press release Dec. 21 that Pinellas County Schools were “very pleased with the key indicators of student success and preparedness to transition to post-secondary education and careers.”
“Our schools are rising to the challenge. This is a very happy day for Pinellas County Schools,” he stated.
To calculate the scores, the Department of Education considers the schools’ FCAT scores, graduation rates, participation and performance in accelerated classes and college readiness, assessing point values for each category. Half of the points are earned through scores on the reading, math, writing and science FCATs, with improvements in scores for the entire student body population and those in lower 25 percent weighed equally.
Ten Pinellas high schools increased their students’ participation in more rigorous courses. Fifteen of the county’s 16 high schools increased their graduation rates, despite the rates being calculated based on four years of enrollment for the first time this year. Palm Harbor University High School maintained the same 95 percent graduation rate as 2011.
“Our teachers and administrators are truly working to foster and maintain cultures of learning and continuous
improvement in our schools where everyone, adults and students alike, values learning and growing,” Grego stated.
Seminole High School, which almost doubled its four-year graduation rate of at-risk students compared to the 2011 school year, earned a B letter grade. The school scored enough points for an A grade, which would have been an improvement from its B last year, but only tested 93 percent of its students, instead of 95 percent required to earn an A.
Three schools also earned the same B grade as in 2011: Clearwater, Dunedin and Lakewood high schools. Dixie Hollins High School remained a C school. The grades of two schools, Gibbs and Northeast high schools, fell from a B to a C.
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