Florida Schools Shine: Gilchrist and Clay Counties Earn Top Grades!

Alachua County, Florida, USA - The educational landscape in Florida continues to evolve, and the recent release of school district grades has sparked interest among parents, educators, and students alike. The Florida State Department of Education has unveiled end-of-year grades for school districts, showcasing a generally positive trend across most teams in North Central Florida. According to WCJB, the majority of these districts have scored above average, indicating a steady commitment to improving educational outcomes.

Leading the pack are Gilchrist and Clay counties, both of which achieved an impressive “A” grade. This accomplishment reflects the hard work and dedication of students and teachers in these areas. Conversely, Putnam County School District has earned the unfortunate distinction of receiving the lowest grade in the region. Meanwhile, Marion County has shown remarkable progress by improving its grade from a “C” to a “B,” following standardized testing results that highlighted previous underperformance. Alachua, Columbia, Levy, and Dixie counties all maintained a solid “B” grade, indicating consistency in their educational offerings.

Grade Breakdown

Here’s a closer look at the school district grades for North Central Florida, comparing the results from 2025 with the previous year:

These grades come as Florida embraces a new set of testing standards, notably the Florida Assessment of Student Thinking (FAST), detailed in reports by News-Press. Adopted to replace the Florida Standards Assessments, the FAST system evaluates student performance across multiple components, emphasizing growth and achievement. Schools must maintain a testing rate of at least 95% to secure a grade, ensuring that results reflect the performance of nearly all students.

Context of Change

The introduction of FAST testing in 2022 has been controversial, with the Florida Education Association expressing concerns over an increase in standardized testing. They argue that younger students, even as young as four years old, are being subjected to tests that may not accurately measure their abilities. It’s a topic that has sparked much debate among educators and policymakers. Yet, the new grading system aims to lay a baseline for future improvements, with no immediate negative repercussions for schools as they adjust to these requirements.

The Florida Department of Education’s accountability measures also rely on data from previous years, tracking learning gains in English Language Arts and Mathematics. Historical grades have been recorded since 2013-14, providing a broad view of educational effectiveness across the state. Schools that struggled in past years had opportunities to opt into grading systems or improvement ratings, which presented an encouraging avenue for many to boost their standings. As for persistently low-performing schools, there’s a continuous effort to uplift them through strategic interventions.

As the dust settles on this year’s grades, one thing is abundantly clear: educational accountability in Florida is under the microscope. With capabilities for future grading shifts and a strong commitment to improvement, there’s something to be said for the resilience and adaptability of our education system. What remains to be seen is how these changes will shape the academic trajectories of our students moving forward.