College letter grades in Wesley Chapel are up total this yr, in keeping with a report launched by the Florida Division of Training in July.
4 of Wesley Chapel’s 9 elementary faculties improved by a letter grade, together with Sand Pine, which moved from a “B” to an “A.”
“We’re thrilled,” says Sand Pine principal Angie Shauger. “For me, this A grade is greater than a letter. It’s a celebration of what’s doable when a faculty unites round a shared mission to do what’s greatest for our college students. I couldn’t be prouder of our college students, workers, and college group that has led us right here.”
The opposite three elementary faculties that improved their letter grades from the 2023-24 faculty yr to 2024-25 are Double Department, Quail Hole and Veterans, all of which moved from a “C” to a “B.”
At Quail Hole, each principal Norman Graham and assistant principal Nicole Sciarratta joined the college for the 2023-24 faculty yr, and so they agree that it’s uncommon for a faculty to have an entire turnover of the executive staff all of sudden. Final yr, they are saying they skilled “typical rising pains,” whereas this yr they have been capable of set up new expectations and enhance the workers’s deal with pupil achievement.
“Our academics centered on setting particular targets with each pupil in studying and math, so that they have been capable of assist college students make progress in very particular areas,” says Sciarratta. “We noticed great progress in proficiency and studying beneficial properties this yr, and we have been only one level from an A.”
All the elementary faculties that improved their grades have been fast to precise their satisfaction of their faculty and the significance of onerous work by each academics and college students, and the assist of oldsters and the group.
“I’m tremendous happy with our group pulling collectively,” says principal Lisa Grimsley at Double Department Elementary. “Not simply the academics, however our unbelievable PTA and even our PLACE [after-school program] workers, the place they’ve time for homework and assist our tutorial wants.”
Whereas the principals are happy with the upper grades, they’re protecting an eye fixed towards additional progress.
“As we stay up for the brand new faculty yr, we’re energized and dedicated to reaching an A,” says Melissa Bidgood, the principal at Veterans Elementary, who says this yr’s success “stems from a laser-sharp deal with information, figuring out areas of want, and intently monitoring pupil progress.”
Seven Oaks Elementary maintained its A, whereas Wesley Chapel and Wiregrass elementaries maintained their Bs.
Two Wesley Chapel elementary faculties dropped a letter grade, together with Watergrass, which fell from a B to a C, and New River, which dropped from a C to a D. Neither New River principal Kelly Wisneski nor Watergrass principal Andrea Altman have been reached for feedback about their faculty’s respective grades.
In the meantime, the brand new Kirkland Ranch Okay-8 faculty obtained an A as its first ever letter grade.
All of Wesley Chapel’s different Okay-8 and center faculties maintained their earlier letter grades, together with As for John Lengthy, Pinecrest Academy, and Union Park Constitution Academy, whereas Cypress Creek, Innovation Prep and Weightman center faculties all earned Bs.
At the highschool degree, Cypress Creek Excessive earned its first-ever A after incomes constant B scores because it opened for the 2017-18 faculty yr.
Kirkland Ranch Academy of Innovation and Wiregrass Ranch Excessive each maintained their As from the earlier yr, and Pinecrest Academy’s highschool confirmed the biggest enhance of any Wesley Chapel faculty, because it moved from a C final yr (its first yr receiving a grade) to an A this yr.
Even high-achieving faculties acknowledge that boiling so many measurements into only one letter might be problematic, and will not characterize all the complexities of a whole faculty and all the college students inside it. The letter grades take into consideration numerous measurements to characterize pupil achievement, studying beneficial properties, commencement, acceleration success, and sustaining a deal with college students who want probably the most assist.
Quail Hole’s Graham expresses it this fashion. “On the finish of the day, we wish every one in every of our children to achieve success,” he says. “We need to have a look at every pupil as a person and assist them get what they want.”
Extra details about the 2024-25 faculty grades is obtainable on-line at FLDoE.org/accountability/accountability-reporting/school-grades. You’ll discover a way more intensive chart that breaks down how every faculty earned its respective letter grade.
