HENDRY COUNTY — District officials reported notable improvements at the Digital Academy of Florida during a town hall, saying targeted enrollment changes and instructional monitoring helped raise proficiency and engagement.

The district’s presenter said, “The total enrollment right now is 5,611,” down from about 7,069 previously, a reduction the district described as intentional to remove students who were not engaging. Speaker 2 explained that removing roughly 1,500 students who "were gaming the system" better reflected the school’s academic performance.

District monitors and the Bureau of School Improvement set targets as part of the DAOF turnaround plan. The presenter said last year the school earned 43% of points and the district is aiming for 54%. Officials also cited provisional PM2 testing rates: early reporting showed about 87% of students tested in English language arts and 86% in math during the testing window, and district staff said their target PM2 attendance is 95%.

The district intends to present PM2 data to the state board on Jan. 21, and officials asked DAOF leaders to complete testing before the winter break so the Jan. 21 review reflects current data.

Staffing changes were part of the turnaround steps. The district announced Rosa Perez "is now the principal" for DAOF and said she has been actively involved in planning and classroom visits. Officials also reported reduced class sizes after hiring additional teachers.

Parents at the meeting pressed on the meaning of school grades and whether changes in state testing and standards affected ratings. One resident said it can be "misleading" for community members to interpret an 'A' or 'B' without context; district staff acknowledged grading and testing changes and said the district is pulling back the curtain to show the factors behind the data.

Officials framed the enrollment adjustments and monitoring as a way to ensure the students who remain in DAOF are receiving aligned instruction and that the school’s metrics reflect actual engagement. The district said it will continue virtual walkthroughs, use an early-warning tracker for at-risk students and escalate interventions — counseling, parent meetings and, when appropriate, transition back to brick-and-mortar schools.

Next steps: the district will present updated PM2 results at the state board meeting on Jan. 21 and will continue monitoring DAOF instruction and attendance.