Lee schools see bump but student proficiency numbers still low
Numbers are improving but the School District of Lee County is still lagging behind the state average in terms of student proficiency in core subjects.
“We are keeping pace with some of the gains and improvements with other districts and state level. We are making strides. We are going to have to do a little bit of work to keep up with peers,” Chief Academic Officer Dr. Nathan Shaker said at the school board meeting on Sept. 17.
According to the presentation given, English Language Arts for grades 3 to 5 had student proficiency at 47% in 2024 — a level three or above — compared to last year’s 45%. For grades sixth through eighth the proficiency rate was 47%, compared to 2023’s 46%, and for ninth and 10th grade the proficiency rose to 48% from 44%.
Proficiency is defined as working at grade level.
Students statewide achieved 54% proficiency for 2024 for third through fifth grade; 52% for grades sixth through eighth; and ninth and 10th grade students had a 53% proficiency for 2024.
In math, students in grades 3-5 had a 53% proficiency rate in 2024, the same as the previous year and grades sixth through eighth had 56% for 2024 and 53% for 2023.
Statewide saw a 55% proficiency rate in grades third through fifth in 2024 and 59% for grades 6-8 all mathematics.
For algebra, grades eight and lower, 81% of students achieved proficiency in 2024, compared to 82% in 2023. For algebra 1 EOC for ninth through 12th grade there was 19% proficiency for 2024, compared to 17% in 2023.
Statewide students achieved 83% proficiency for grades 8 and lower algebra and 33% for grades ninth through 12th in 2024.
Science for grade five saw student proficiency at 51% for 2024, compared to 50% in 2023. For grade eight, all science, 41% of students achieved proficiency, compared to 44% in 2023. For biology 1 EOC, there was a 49% proficiency in 2024, compared to 50% in 2023.
Statewide, proficiency was at 49% for grade eight all science, and 66% for biology 1 EOC.
For civics, the district had saw 58% proficiency for 2024, compared to 59% in 2023 and U.S. history had a 55% proficiency for 2024, compared to 53% in 2023.
The state’s civics and U.S. history proficiency was 67%.
This comparable raw data was presented to the board, as part of a school grade data presentation.
Shaker said F.A.S.T. has three separate assessments, with students already taking the first round, which acts as a baseline assessment from which they grow. In December, when students have half a year of learning under their belts, the district gets a good idea of the progress they have made.
“PM3 (progress monitoring) summative score measures the student’s mastery of the B.E.S.T. Standards,” he said.
The presentation also highlighted how schools achieve their school grade — which now includes third grade achievement as an individual item in the school grade component for elementary schools. Both middle and high schools that are a combination school must clear 64% points, a 2% increase.
Nineteen schools earned an A grade and 30 earned a B.
Another part of the presentation focused on ESSA (Every Student Succeeds Act), which was presented by South Regional Associate Superintendent Cheryl Neely. ESSA monitors student subgroups through such indicators as academic achievement, academic progress, graduation rate, school quality or student success, and progress in achieving English language proficiency.
“The Florida components for the federal index are the same as school grades. The additional category monitors achieving English language proficiency,” she said.
The categories include additional targeted support and improvement (ATSI), targeted support and improvement (TSI) and comprehensive support and improvement (CSI).
The north region’s 21 schools include 14 ATSI, three TSI and two CSI. Manatee Elementary School and Bayshore Elementary School cleared all ESSA subgroups. There were no A schools, seven had a B, 12 had a C and two had a D.
Among the 17 schools in the east region, there were no A schools, four received a B, 11 a C and two a D. There were 10 schools listed as ATSI, four as TSI and two as a CSI. Mirror Lakes Elementary School cleared all ESSA subgroups.
The south region, which includes 22 schools, had five A schools, seven had a B and nine a C. Fourteen schools were ATSI and three were TSI.
There were five schools that cleared all subgroups — Fort Myers Beach Elementary, The Sanibel School, Pinewoods Elementary School, Bonita Springs Middle Center for the Arts and Rayma C. Page Elementary School.
For the west region, six schools received an A, 10 a B, and six a C. There were 17 schools in the ATSI category and one in the TSI category. Challenger Middle School, Gulf Middle School, Diplomat Elementary School, and Littleton Elementary School cleared all ESSA subgroups.
To exit ATSI, or TSI, a school must improve subgroup(s) performance on the federal percentage of points to 41% or higher. To exit CSI, a school must have a federal percentage of points of 41% or higher, must have a D or F school grade and must have a graduation rate above 67%.
Those schools that enter CSI because they were previously identified as ATSI based on subgroup performance for six consecutive years must raise their subgroups performance to 41% or higher to exit.
As a response to this data presented, Shaker said they have a strong partnership between regional leadership and academic services with a focus on building capacity and finding and creating the best tools and seeking out innovation.
“When we focus only on directly coaching teachers, we are limiting our scope — (we have to) spread expertise wider,” he said, adding that training will be given to beginner, intermediate and expert teachers.
The regional superintendents are a factor in capacity, as they are analyzing data by region, and responding regionally by connecting the right curriculum tools for each region. The tools fall within small group instruction, tools that involve personal engagement and reducing time spent in testing environments.
Innovation falls within a focus on ESOL and ESE. There are 23,717 students receiving active support in the district and 12,426 of which have an individualized education plan.
That’s 40% of the population needing support.
The presentation ended with Resiliency Florida. According to the presentation, Florida is the first in the nation leading with this approach, which empowers students to persevere and overcome challenges.
Board Member Jada Langford-Fleming said she loves the concept of Resiliency Florida.
“You can’t teach this, but we can sure as heck model it. I am challenging the district to do that and allow our teachers to do this in their classrooms,” she said.
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