Hendry County schools tied for fourth-highest academic growth in Florida after spring 2025 assessments

Hendry County school officials reported that the district tied for fourth in the state for year-to-year academic growth on spring 2025 assessments, a superintendent’s presentation showed. District staff compared total district points across Florida’s 67 districts and ranked districts by point growth from 2024 to 2025. The superintendent said the ranking reflects “a total team effort” and credited teachers, school leaders and support staff for the gains. Assistant Superintendent Sanchez, who presented the analysis, said the district compared each district’s total points in 2024 with 2025 and then ranked growth; Washington County led the state with a 79-point increase, a roughly 6% gain. Sanchez said Hendry County’s improvement placed it in a tie for fourth in the statewide growth ranking. The presentation said nine of 10 Hendry schools showed academic growth and singled out LaBelle Elementary (referred to in the presentation as a turnaround school last year) as a notable example of large year-to-year improvement. Officials also credited district initiatives cited in the presentation, including a recently formed ELL task force and targeted classroom supports, as contributors to the gains. Board members and the superintendent noted the district’s size and demographics when comparing Hendry to higher-performing, larger districts. The superintendent said those differences mean the “lift is different” but argued that “kids can still learn” when given supports and expectations. The presentation and remarks tied the results to spring 2025 assessment data and district-led interventions rather than to any new statewide policy change. District officials said they will continue sharing assessment results with the board and the public and plan follow-up presentations from successful programs and student representatives in upcoming meetings.