OKALOOSA, WALTON, AND SANTA ROSA SCHOOLS AMONG THE BEST IN FLORIDA

Just another reason why Northwest Florida is on the radar screen for people and companies to move to our area. Great weather, Great Beaches, Great Schools, I-10 Corridor. Why wouldn’t you move here.

Local schools shine on FCAT writing
Okaloosa, Walton and Santa Rosa students among best in Florida
By KATIE TAMMEN
Northwest Florida Daily News 315-4440 ktammen@nwfdailynews.com  
Local schools once again have excelled on the writing portion of the FCAT despite increasingly rigorous standards. Students in Okaloosa, Santa Rosa and Walton counties performed, on average, at or above statewide levels, according to statistics released Wednesday by the Florida Department of Education. Fourth-, eighth-, and 10th-grade students took the writing exam in March. School officials across the area were pleased with the scores. Santa Rosa County did the best overall, with Okaloosa and Walton counties close behind. “I’m ecstatic,” Walton County Superintendent of Schools Carlene Anderson said of the results. Her district was tied for fifth statewide with Santa Rosa County for fourth-grade writing. Walton students tied for fifth with Okaloosa for eighth-grade writing and tied in sixth with Okaloosa in 10th-grade writing. Two elementary schools, Maude Sanders and Freeport, improved 40 and 42 percentage points, respectively, in the number of students who scored a 4 or higher compared to last year, Anderson said. A score of 4 indicates that students are performing at grade level. “We have done things differently at the schools,” Anderson said. “It’s been some very individualized diagnostic work done with our teachers and children.” In Okaloosa, several schools also saw large percentage jumps. Edge Elementary had 97 percent of its fourth-graders receive a 4 or higher on the exam, said Guyla Hendricks, the school district’s chief officer for quality assurance and curriculum. “We realize that teaching writing is a complex process, but an important skill for future success in careers and college for our students,” Superintendent of Schools Alexis Tibbetts said. Santa Rosa County saw an increase in the number of students who received a 4 or higher at all elementary schools, eight out of nine middle schools and six out of seven high schools. “Obviously, our teachers and students rose to the occasion,” said Bill Emerson, assistant superintendent for curriculum, instruction and assessment. “They impress me more each time I get an opportunity to see how they do.” Students’ test scores should be mailed to school districts by May 12 to send to parents, according to a news release from the Department of Education. The test was scored on a scale of 1 to 6. In a departure from previous years, the DOE is in the process of increasing the minimum score necessary to be considered proficient from a 3.5 to a 4 for the current school year.