Percentage of students by grade passing FCAT reading and writing:
READING
Collier 55 percent (9th) 50 percent (10th)
Lee 53 percent (9th) 49 percent (10th)
State 52 percent (9th) 50 percent (10th)
WRITING
Collier 74 percent (4th) 77 percent (8th) 84 percent (10th)
Lee 85 percent (4th) 80 percent (8th) 85 percent (10th)
State 81 percent (4th) 78 percent (8th) 84 percent (10th)
About half of Southwest Florida’s ninth and 10th graders will have to retake the FCAT reading test next year, according to results released by the state Friday.
Statewide, only about 50 percent of Florida students earned a passing score on the reading test this year, putting those that didn’t pass at risk for graduation. The state increased the rigor and the score needed to pass the test earlier this school year.
“It is still better that we’re pushing our kids even if it shows they are taking a lesser score,” Collier Superintendent Kamela Patton said. “It’s better that we continue to raise the bar.”
This year’s 10th graders will have four more chances to retake the Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test to earn a passing score — a level three or higher on a five-level scale — to graduate. In the past, students could graduate with a lower score.
The district anticipated that about half of the students wouldn’t pass, Patton said.
“We know that it’s an unrealistic expectation that halfway through high school we’re expecting them to know four years of knowledge in two years,” she said. The district will offer students who did not pass an additional period of reading, educate parents about the test, give teachers more training and ensure that students retake the test in October.
Statewide, 52 percent of ninth-graders passed the reading test, as did 50 percent of 10th graders.
“Are we happy with half of the students failing?” asked Education Commissioner Gerard Robinson. “Most people across the board would say no. But we are happy with the progress that we’re making ... to make sure that next year and the year after students are moving in the right direction.”
Collier’s reading scores were slightly higher in ninth grade and equal to the state in 10th grade. Fifty-five percent of Collier ninth graders passed the test, compared to 52 percent statewide. In Lee, 53 percent of ninth graders and 49 percent of 10th graders passed the reading test.
“We knew the new FCAT 2.0 was going to be more rigorous, and we’ve been preparing since school started this year,” Lee Superintendent Joseph Burke said. “It’s a harder test but it’s never a bad thing to increase expectations. In the long run, this will benefit our students tremendously.”
The state also released updated writing scores after panic from districts earlier this week about dramatically low scores. As a result, the state lowered the score needed to pass.
Collier scored slightly below average with 74 percent of fourth graders, 77 percent of eighth graders and 84 percent of tenth graders passing. Lee exceeded the state average by a few percentage points in all grades for writing.
The state average for students passing the writing test was 81 percent in fourth grade, 78 percent in eighth grade and 84 percent in 10th grade.
Patton said that the Collier school district has the fourth highest number of students learning English as a second language of the 67 districts in Florida. Lee ranks 15th, she said.
This reflects the lower writing scores, she said. When third grade reading scores are released next week, Patton anticipates the scores to be even lower than the ninth and 10th grade scores.
“We have more kids that it’s not their native language” she said. “They have to acquire that skill and it’s going to affect us more in elementary school.”
The remaining FCAT reading, math and science scores will be released within the next few weeks.
Catch of the Day: May 23, 2013
Scripps Interactive Newspapers Group
Comments » 20
KlausStoertebeker writes:
Another big story about Americans downfall. Now on the way to the last spot of the international PISA study.
RayPray writes:
Congrats to the half that passed this tough test!
As for the rest, as long as these kids are awake enough to set up and operate their Facebook pages, keep track of their theme tattoos and and puzzle out fantasy football strategy, what's to worry?
Whenever we need someone to work out the boring math or science stuff, can't we just import these nerds from Asia?
dc5799 writes:
I would rather be a parent to a nerd from anywhere than be a parent to a DOPE.
captnjimbo writes:
Just for the heck of it I went on line and took a couple of tenth grade sample tests. The first was a study of the effects of drought in Jamestown on the early settlers. I answered 5 out of nine correctly. The second was the medicinal value of serpent venom. I scored 9 out of 9. Truth is I read the second more carefully but I also thought the questions in the first were a little tricky, in some cases there were answers that were more targeted than others. Have some fun, take the tests yourself.
KlausStoertebeker writes:
captnjimbo
...but I also thought the questions in the first were a little tricky, in some cases there were answers that were more targeted than others.....
Life is tricky. We learn for life - never for the school. But we need basics.
WhiskeyTangoFoxtrot writes:
It's okay. Next year they will lower the passing score. Then 60% will pass. All good!
Klaus, how are your Euro nation buddies doing? It looks to me like there is serious trouble in the failed experiment that is the Euro. Stop trying to make it sound as if the USA is the only country with these issues. Approaching 50% youth unemployment in Spain, Italy, Greece, Portugal, and other EU nations can't end well. I'm sure those young adults are all brilliant.
KlausStoertebeker writes:
If you want to discuss this subject with me seriously you need basic information's.
The EURO is a common currency. Nothing else. Has nothing to do with education, brilliant students or unemployment rates. The big difference to America is, Europe s political not united, has different languages, different histories and most important different cultures. America is one nation (you know your pledge), one currency and one language. And important one even short history. Even if you have a multi culture society, Americans are Americans. The biggest different is, America has a Federal government with one boss. In the moment great President Barack Obama. Political powerful and a decisions maker.
So if you criticize the youth unemployment rate in "Spain, Italy, Greece, Portugal, and other EU nations" I am agree with you. But ask this people. Not me. In Germany we have an unemployment rate of under 10%. Germany has more vacant jobs than unemployed people. One major problem is by mine standpoint of view, the social hammock is to big and it is to easy to get in. The German social system is to big and to swollen. For example. Germany supported over the last years plenty of Americans asking for political asylum. After years the German bureaucrats decide:
NO AMERICA IS NOT A COUNTRY LISTED AS ASYLUM COUNTRY. OH WONDER!
In the meantime all Americans asking for asylum got a condo, monthly money, full healthcare, food, beverage, free transportation, free TV and other stuff.
That's wrong.
Years ago the German education system was ranked below average. The government did a lot of corrections. Finally Germany is now ranked in the first 10% of all nation worldwide. I will be more happy if Germany ranked under the first3 nations. America is second last. Results above are showing this dramatically.
Last but not least. The crisis we all face in the moment started in America with the collapse of the Lehman and other banks. A bank earthquake up to 10 on the Richter scale. A giant real estate bubble imploded. On top one of the biggest lenders in Europe, specially in Spain, Italy, Greece, Portugal, and other EU nations, are American banks. So - what do you think WHY great President Barack Obama's put all his influence to European politic people actually in Camp David? "Solve your problems!", he said at least until I am re-elected. And he is right! Every month we survived all together is a good month. I have no imaginations how the world looks, if Spain, Italy, Greece, Portugal, and other EU nations go bankrupt. If you believe America is than a big spot to survive peaceful, wrong. We all go to hell.
But I have no idea whether you understand the dimension of the world situation. It is not an easy subject.
But finally we are all sitting in the same boat! Planet Earth!
liberator100 writes:
Uwe:
1. You have no idea what you are talking about!
2. If Germany is so much better, what in the world are you doing here?
3. Barack Obama a Great President? Great at what? Lies and more lies?
4. Never ever forget that there was a war and we won. You are a loser and nothing you say can change that now.
5. Europe is an economic basket case.
26yearsonmarco writes:
"The big difference to America is, Europe s political not united, has different languages, different histories and most important different cultures. America is one nation (you know your pledge), one currency and one language. And important one even short history. Even if you have a multi culture society, Americans are Americans."
Klaus,
Dis usetabe da way it wuz, butt no mow.
Adious Amigo, and see ya bro.
http://www.latimes.com/news/nation/na...
KlausStoertebeker writes:
You are the living witness of a disastrous school system.
WhiskeyTangoFoxtrot writes:
Klaus,
All I asked is that you recognize that America is not the only country on the Titanic. All the developed countries of the world are at the moment doing nothing but reorganizing the deck chairs. They all change the rules when the rules don't provide the desired results.
I do believe that America will be the last country standing on the stern deck because the $ is the world reserve currency. We can pump nearly unlimited liquidity into the markets because everything (oil, grains, metals, even other nations bonds are settled in USD)is traded in $.
In the end, the Titanic still goes to the bottom with everyone on it. A 30 year super credit cycle cannot be reversed without dire consequences. No politician in any developed nation is going to vote for that. Just change the rules as we go to get the desired results. Even in the schools.
KlausStoertebeker writes:
"Just change the rules as we go to get the desired results. Even in the schools."
If that will be so easy, even lower the passing FCAT writing score from a 4.0 to a 3.0 like you prefer, that is nothing else than window dressing. Who teach you that you can put "unlimited liquidity into the markets" you not have? You think the new Jolly Bridge has financial value? Build with printed money? You open the door to another American problem.
When China put their US $$$ into the market the Euro goes up like the private missile yesterday to the space station with Scotty on board and the US $ is history. Maybe it will be good for you take some lessons in national and internationals financials. Your background is really weak. Or read Romney s statement about the future of America. He is very close on reality. Sorry. That was not a very fundamental statement of you.
KlausStoertebeker writes:
PS We are agree, that America is not the only nation on the Titanic. But the Eisberg is build with homemade ice cubes Made in America.
liberator100 writes:
(This comment was removed by the site staff.)
OldMarcoMan writes:
Did The Charter School take this test? If they did how did they do?
WhiskeyTangoFoxtrot writes:
Klaus,
Maybe not unlimited amounts, but a hell of a lot. The next QE from the FED will be huge. It will come after the elections. Commodities will skyrocket. This dump in the market was easily predictable. Obama needs to bring down oil prices prior to the elections. This means no added liquidity from the FED. Too bad for the equities players but they aren't Obamas base. I'm not sure the planners counted on the crisis in Europe reaching these levels, so that may lead to the central banks of all the developed nations having to step in sooner than Obama wants.
If it's Obama or Romney taking the helm it won't matter. The world needs the "printed money" as you called it, or everything stops. No matter who is steering the ship next year the flooding of the world with liquidity will continue until it doesn't work any more. That day is drawing very near. Especially in the EU. The LTRO was a total failure, that's just one instance.
They should teach this stuff in schools so the kids of today don't repeat the mistakes of the past 30 years. Yes, I know this is way off topic.
KlausStoertebeker writes:
WTF,
surprise you are now much more moderate. But your statement:
="The world needs the "printed money" as you called it, or everything stops."
... IS WRONG. Maybe if you not believe me, read the opinion of Mr. Greenspan. He said it 9 years ago. This way is a NO way. Have you an imagination if we all collapse? Can you tell me what kind of scenario that is? Shopping wit a gun?
I HAVE NO IMAGINATION AT ALL. BUT IT LOOKS NOT GOOD.
WE WILL SE.
WhiskeyTangoFoxtrot writes:
I wasn't saying that the world needing liquidity "printed money" is a good thing. It's not because liquidity from central banks is not productive capital. It just keeps banks and corporations, and governments that need to borrow more money be able to borrow and role older debt at continually lower rates while adding more debt to their balance sheet. Nobody ever fails. The government and central banks just keep the ponzi going not allowing markets to inflate and deflate naturally. Bernanke is hell bent to not allow deflation in this country.
I don't know what collapse will look like in America. Greece may offer some clues should they return to the Drachma or some other currency. Debt based monetary systems always end. It's happened here before. 99% of people believe it can't happen again. They will be sorely mistaken.
Shopping with a gun? Maybe? As I have stated before, 47 million people on food stamps becoming hungry won't have a happy ending. There really isn't anywhere else in the world to run. All our economies are becoming dependent upon each other. If it's that bad here it will be as bad or worse in the rest of the developed nations. I don't think this is the end, but a few years of very difficult times will be lived through. Of course, war is always a possibility.
KlausStoertebeker writes:
Hopefully we both are NOT right!
captnjimbo writes:
Back on point I thought this was a good question. I p[oked around...was told Marco Academy had fewer % gifted, larger % Special Ed but still scored third in the district and slightly ahead of Lely...in its first year.
In my opinion not great, but a good start and I would bet there will be good improvement as expectations are higher.
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