Fewer Duval third-graders achieved higher than a level 1 on the FCAT 2.0 reading exam. The state requires students to get a level 2 or higher to move up to fourth grade.
Fewer third graders in Duval County passed level 1 on the reading exam on the new FCAT 2.0 than last year, the state announced today.
About 1,911 Duval students scored a level one, meaning they may be retained in the third grade. Florida requires an achievement of a level 2 or higher in reading to move on to the fourth grade.
Students can take the Stanford 10 standardized test next week, attend summer programs, or demonstrate adequate work portfolio to move on.
Chief academic officer Kath LeRoy says the state overall went backwards in scores, and it was expected because the bar was raised.
“Fewer topics with deeper content knowledge around those topics,” LeRoy said.
She said students are making progress, but it isn’t reflected in the way it was scored because the standards have been raised. Following is a comparisson of this year's scores and last, but the state says it can't be seen as a direct comparison because the test more rigorous this year.
In Duval County, 51 percent scored a 3 or above on reading, which is down 4 percentage points from last year.
In math, 56 percent of Duval third-graders scored a 3 or above, which is unchanged from last year.
For the state of Florida, students achieved 56 percent got a level 3 or above on reading, which is down 1 percentage point from last year.
In math, 58 percent achieved a level 3 or above, which is up two points higher than last year.
St. Johns County continues to have some of the highest scores among northeast Florida districts, with 75 percent earning a 3 or above on reading and 73 percent in math.
The 2011 tests have been re-scored using this year’s new grading system, making the results similar to this year’s scores.