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District reports preliminary gains in ELA and science but final state scores pending
Summary
Manatee County staff said preliminary district testing data show year-over-year gains in most elementary and middle-grade ELA tests and improved science results in fifth, eighth and biology; official state results and school grades are expected in June.
District testing staff gave the School Board a preliminary status update on statewide assessments during the May 20 meeting, saying that early results suggest gains in English language arts (ELA) across most grades and improved science outcomes in key tested grades.
Evan McCarthy, director of research and accountability, said the district’s ELA results are up year over year in almost every grade except second grade and ninth grade, while science showed upward trends in fifth grade, eighth grade and biology. He cautioned that the Florida assessment windows remain open to makeups through May 30, and the state’s dataset typically arrives later and can include students who makeup tests and often score lower.
“We’re performing better than we were last year against the same criteria,” McCarthy said, noting that Florida’s FAST assessments are criterion-referenced and not normed against the state each year. Math windows were completing the day of the meeting; staff expected to finalize math comparisons once makeups conclude and the state releases its official scores.
McCarthy said the district will receive official writing, ELA, math, science and social‑studies results in mid‑June; state release of school grades and the Federal Index is expected in late June or early July. The board requested a fuller presentation once the state’s official data are released, and staff said they will schedule a board presentation after the June release.
Ending: Staff emphasized the preliminary nature of the data and warned that makeup testing and delayed state reporting can adjust final results; the board asked for a comprehensive report once all official scores are available.
