Scores for third-grade math sections of the FCAT are up statewide, with students scoring slightly less in reading.
More third-grade students in Florida scored at or above grade level in math than ever before on this year's Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test, according to data released by the Florida Department of Education Thursday.
Statewide results show that 78 percent of students scored at or above grade level in math. This is up 2 percent since last year.
However, third-grade reading scores fell 1 percent statewide, with only 71 percent of students reading at or above grade level.
These mixed results are echoed in Southwest Florida, where DeSoto County reported a slight decline in both reading and math, while students in Charlotte and Sarasota counties scored either the same or better than last year in both subjects.
In reading, Charlotte County students remained constant with 2008's FCAT results, as 78 percent of third-graders read at or above grade level. Also, 83 percent of third-graders scored at or above grade level in math, which is up 3 points from 80 percent in 2008.
Overall, the district is proud.
"I'm not disappointed at all," said Cathy Hoff, Charlotte's director of elementary education. "We had a couple of schools that went down a few percents, but nothing earth-shattering. Overall, I'm excited."
Especially, she said, when it comes to the math scores.
In fact, nine of Charlotte's 10 elementary schools reported that 80 percent or more of their third-graders performed at or above grade level in math.
One of these shining schools was Kingsway Elementary School, where 88 percent of third-graders scored a 3, 4 or 5 on the five-level test. This represents a 6 percent increase since last year's score of 82. Kingsway students also performed well in reading, with 84 percent of students reading at or above grade level -- up 2 percent since 2008.
Sarasota County officials are impressed with their results.
At Cranberry Elementary School in North Port, 91 percent of third-graders scored a 3 or above in reading, up from 90 percent last year. They improved even more in math, increasing from 90 percent to 94 percent.
Cranberry principal Linda Daniels credited after-school and one-on-one weekend tutoring, as well as the efforts of "phenomenal" teachers, support staff, aides, parents and, of course, the hard work of the students.
"Our boys and girls worked really hard and proved to us that they spent the year being very focused," Daniels said. "I'm so impressed and the teachers were so thrilled when they heard the news."
Districtwide, the percentage of Sarasota students scoring at levels 3-5 in reading held constant with the 2008 results at 83 percent. Also, the percentage of students scoring at levels 3-5 in math increased from 85 to 87 percent.
In DeSoto County, 70 percent of third-graders scored at or above grade level in reading, which is down 2 points since 2008 and only 1 point below the state average. In math, 75 percent of students scored a 3 or higher, down 1 percent from 2008.
Overall, DeSoto School Superintendent Adrian Cline is proud.
"Compared to districts in our area, in regards to percent scoring level 3 and above, DeSoto performed the same as Hardee and Highlands, and better than Hendry, Manatee, Okeechobee and Polk," Cline said.
The greatest improvements were seen at Nocatee Elementary School, which reported 74 percent of third-graders scoring a 3 or above in math, up 6 percent from 2008's percentage of 68. In reading, 66 percent of the students scored at or above grade level, the same as it was in 2008.
To view school, district and state FCAT results, visit http://fcat.fldoe.org.
THIRD GRADE FCAT SCORES
Percent scoring 3 and above (on a scale from 1-5; 3 is passing)
READING
Year Charlotte DeSoto Sarasota State
2009 78 70 83 71
2008 78 72 83 72
2007 77 65 80 69
MATH
Year Charlotte DeSoto Sarasota State
2009 83 75 87 78
2008 80 76 85 76
2007 81 76 83 74
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Mean Score (scale of 100-500)
READING
Year Charlotte DeSoto Sarasota State
2009 323 307 334 313
2008 324 310 332 313
2007 322 303 329 309
MATH
YEAR Charlotte DeSoto Sarasota State
2009 347 329 358 337
2008 344 331 351 333
2007 341 325 346 328
Staff writers Anne Klockenkemper and John Lawhorne contributed to this article.
E-mail: pstaik@sun-herald.com
By PAMELA STAIK
Staff Writer