Duval County Public Schools earns A grade; superintendent credits progress monitoring, targeted interventions

Duval County Public Schools announced it has reached an A rating in the state accountability system, Superintendent Christopher Bernier said during a joint meeting of the Jacksonville City Council and the Duval County School Board. The district scored 762 points under the state formula, Bernier said, and will need an additional 12 points to make the same threshold under future state increases.

Bernier said the district—s graduation rate for traditional schools has cracked 95 percent and that 10 schools rose two letter grades while 35 rose one grade in the most recent reporting cycle. "Ten schools jumped two letter grades," he said, "and 35 moved one letter grade. Those are real kids, real classrooms, real teachers changing outcomes." He also highlighted the district—s Duval Ready diploma, which he said requires career exploration,…