Friday, May 29, 2009

Monroe County had one of the largest percentages of fifth-graders to score proficient or higher in science, according to a preliminary look at Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test results released Thursday.

According to test results, 58 percent of the county's fifth-graders scored three and above in overall science categories. On a scale of one to six, three indicates proficiency in the subject. Fifth-graders at Big Pine Key Academy charter school had the highest percentage of students, 83 percent, scoring proficient and above.

Only three other school districts had 58 percent or more of their fifth-graders score proficient or higher, results show: Brevard, Santa Rosa and Seminole counties.

While other school systems tied Monroe County, students of two nontraditional education venues -- Philip Keyes Yonge Developmental Research School, operated by the University of Florida as an independent school district, and Florida Virtual Academy, an online instructional K-12 venue -- scored higher at 62 and 68 respectively.

A smaller percentage of Monroe County's eighth- and 11th-graders rated proficient in science, results show. Overall, 46 percent of eighth-graders scored three or better, while 37 percent of 11th-graders were considered proficient or better.

At least 14 other Florida counties had a higher percentage of eighth-graders considered proficient or better; and 27 other school districts had a larger percentage of 11th-graders scoring higher than Monroe County schools.

Mike Henriquez, the deputy superintendent and director of student services, said teachers and administration have been working hard to improve younger students' science performance.

"We've always done pretty well in elementary school science," he said. "We focused on that because we had slipped a little."

The FCAT science exams, which are given to fifth-, eighth- and 11th-graders throughout the state, are dissected by the state Department of Education in several ways: by county, school and grade.

Some highlights:

• In Monroe County, Marathon High School had the highest percentage of 11th-graders, 41 percent, to score at proficient or higher in science, followed by Coral Shores High School 11th-graders, 39 percent, and Key West High School, 35 percent.

• Among eighth-graders in the county, Sugarloaf led the pack, with 62 percent scoring proficient or better, followed by Plantation Key School, 54 percent; Key Largo Elementary, 47 percent; Horace O'Bryant Middle School, 42 percent; and Marathon High, which has eighth-graders, 36 percent.

• As for fifth-graders in Monroe County, Big Pine scored 83 percent; Sigsbee Elementary fifth-graders 74 percent; Island Montessori, 73 percent; Sugarloaf Elementary, 71 percent; Plantation Key, 69 percent; Montessori Charter School, 64 percent; Gerald Adams, 57 percent; Stanley Switlik Elementary, 53 percent; Key Largo Elementary, 52 percent; Poinciana Elementary, 46 percent; and Glynn Archer, 40 percent.

Students are graded in four scientific disciplines: physical and chemical science, earth and space, life and environmental, and scientific thinking.

The school district is expected to release its findings Thursday on whether this year's scores are an improvement, a setback or the same as last year's.

jguerra@keysnews.com