Board discusses Somerset charter renewal after elementary score falls; middle school performing better
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Summary
Board members asked for data on a charter school's elementary and middle school performance after staff noted Somerset Elementary received an F while Somerset Middle earned a D; staff said location changes and enrollment shifts contributed to differences.
Duval County School Board members discussed the renewal of a charter contract for Somerset schools on Thursday after staff reported differing accountability grades for the campus’ elementary and middle school programs.
A board member asked why the elementary grade was low while the middle school grade appeared stronger. A district staff member explained that Somerset Middle is graded D and comparable neighborhood schools received C grades; Somerset Elementary received an F. The staff member noted that charter-school renewal language includes potential closure language if poor performance persists.
Staff added context that Somerset recently moved locations and effectively took on a new student population when it traded facilities with another charter school. "They took on basically a new population because a lot of the students didn't want to go with the school when it moves," a staff member said, describing the relocation and resulting enrollment change.
Board members requested the data that had been shared previously about performance levels and said the charter office will continue monitoring. Staff noted that the charter-school office maintains an oversight relationship with the operator and that the office will supply the board with previously provided data about the renewal and performance metrics.
No formal action on charter renewal was recorded in the discussion excerpt; board members asked staff to provide the data and continue oversight that could lead to future contract decisions depending on persistent low performance.