Schools

Nearly Half of Manatee 3rd-Graders Can't Read at Grade Level: FCAT

Manatee third-graders trailed the state in reading and math scores on the FCAT, with about a quarter at serious risk of being held back.

Slightly less than half of Manatee County's third-graders read and perform math at or above grade level — at 49 percent, according to FCAT results released Friday.

About a quarter of the third-graders scored a "1," the lowest score on reading and math exams, which means they are at serious risk of being held back.

Scoring on the third-grade FCAT is numbered from 1 to 5, with 3 the minimum for students to be considered at grade level.

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In Manatee schools:

  • 26 percent of third-graders scored a 1 in math;
  • 25 percent of third-graders scored a 1 in reading.

There were several standout schools in the county.

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Anna Maria Elementary topped Manatee elementary schools, with 86 percent of third-graders reading at or above grade level, and 80 percent meeting or exceeding standards in math.

At Williams Elementary, 70 percent of third-graders were at or above grade level in math. At Willis Elementary, it was 69 percent of third-graders.

Yet overall, Manatee third-graders lag behind their peers in Florida.

Across Florida, 57 percent of third-graders were at or above grade level in reading, and 58 percent met or exceeded the standards in math.

For Manatee, the results were nearly the same as 2012: Math scores were up by a point, while reading scores overall fell by a point.

Here is a look at the percentage of third-graders scoring at or above grade level in reading and math in some Bradenton elementary schools:

  • Ballard Elementary School: 46 percent in reading, 32 percent in math.
  • William H. Bashaw School: 53 percent reading, 61 percent math.
  • Bayshore Elementary School: 39 percent in reading, 33 percent in math.
  • Manatee Elementary School: 28 percent in reading, 40 percent in math.

See the attached pdf files and look under Manatee to see scores for other Bradenton schools and the rest of the state.

Florida’s passing rates have dropped after exams were changed and a more rigorous scoring system implemented.

Teacher evaluations are partially based on students’ FCAT scores.

School letter grades are set to be released in July,

Students’ individual FCAT results will be distributed to parents by schools later.

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