This year’s crop of local third graders did not fare as well as previous classes on the 2010 FCAT (Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test).

With Florida’s Department of Education releasing scores today, Marion County third grade reading scores dropped four points to 68 percent proficient, defined as students scoring Level 3 and above. The drop puts local reading scores at four points below the state’s 72 percent.  Math scores fared somewhat better falling just two points to 79 percent but still above the state’s 78 percent.

One bright spot is that many students who scored Level 1 in Reading can be promoted because of other factors as allowed by the state. 

Six schools improved both their reading and math scores over last year -- College Park, East Marion, Eighth Street, Madison Street Academy, Oakcrest, and Reddick-Collier. 

Highest gains in reading were at College Park (+16), Oakcrest (+9), Fessenden (+6), and Romeo (+6).  Highest gains in math were at Reddick-Collier (+11), East Marion (+8), Eighth Street (+8), and Dunnellon (+7).

Thirteen schools dropped both reading and math scores over last year – Anthony, Belleview, Belleview-Santos, Evergreen, Fort McCoy, Hammett Bowen, McIntosh Area Charter, Saddlewood, South Ocala, Sparr, Stanton-Weirsdale, Ward-Highlands, and Wyomina Park. Biggest drops in reading took place at McIntosh Area Charter (-20), Ward-Highlands (-20), Evergreen (-15), and Sparr (-14). 

Biggest drops in math were at McIntosh Area Charter (-26), Anthony (-21), Marion Charter (-19), and Fessenden (-13).

While district and school leaders delve into the numbers to analyze why scores went down, the leading reasons may include increased efforts to promote more first- and second-graders over the last few years, high gains in previous years that simply cannot be matched, and an unusually high number of new principals.

FCAT scores for grades 4-11 are expected in the next few weeks but school grades aren’t likely to be released by Florida’s DOE until July.