Dear Editor:
The state of Florida recently released school and district grades for the 2023-24 school year. This year’s grade calculations re-introduced learning gains and bottom quartile learning gains for ELA and math now that the F.A.S.T. assessment has completed its second year. The Union County School District remained a “B” overall, with Lake Butler Middle School increasing from a “C” to a “B,” Union County High School maintaining a “B,” and Lake Butler Elementary School dropping to a “C” by one point.
The 2023-24 school grades witnessed Lake Butler Middle School earning its first “B” since 2019. This was due to gains made across nearly all tested subject areas. LBMS saw an increase in ELA achievement scores from 46% in 2023 to 48% in 2024. Seventh grade alone had 57% of students pass the ELA assessment, tying them for the eighth highest school district in the state. This increase was accompanied by 57% making learning gains and 60% in the bottom quartile making learning gains in ELA. Both of these high marks in learning gains were the highest in seven years. The school also had an overall increase in math scores going from 59% achievement in 2023 to 61% achievement in 2024. Again, seventh grade did exceptionally well, with 68% of students passing the math assessment enabling LBMS to be tied for eighth highest school district in the state. This success in the math assessment scores was bolstered with 65% of students making learning gains and 66% learning gains for those in the bottom quartile. The improvements in learning gains for math were the highest in more than seven years.
LBMS also experienced a significant increase with its seventh-grade civics scores from 59% in 2023 to 75% in 2024. The success on the civics assessment tied LBMS for ninth highest school district in the state. Science scores in fifth and eighth grades are still a matter of concern and are receiving added attention this year. The school’s science achievement fell from 38% in 2023 to 31% in 2024. Additionally, the Acceleration Points earned through students passing the Algebra 1 Assessment and Industry Certification exams rose from 68% in 2023 to 70% in 2024.
The 2023-24 school year also brought a good bit of success to Union County High School, where it once again maintained a high “B.” UCHS saw an increase in ELA achievement scores from 50% in 2023 to 53% in 2024. Ninth-grade students earned a 57% pass rate, which allowed UCHS to tie for seventh highest school district in the state for ninth-grade ELA scores. Students also made learning gains in ELA, with 61% overall making learning gains and 63% making learning gains in the bottom quartile. Overall math achievement slipped somewhat from 61% in 2023 to 54% in 2024. This includes those students who took the algebra 1 and geometry state assessments. Math also saw 37% of students making overall learning gains, with 35% in the bottom quartile making learning gains.
While UCHS again turned in solid performances in science and social studies, this year’s scores were slightly lower than last year’s scores. The science achievement scores earned from the biology state assessment saw 71% of students passing as opposed to 78% last year. Social studies achievement measured by the U.S. history state assessment was at 70% in 2024 compared to 74% in 2023. College and Career Acceleration also dipped from 64% in 2023 to 55% in 2024, while the graduation rate grew from 78% in 2023 to 86% in 2024. Finally, while this assessment is not in the school grade calculation, 81% of the students who took the Florida Civics Literacy Examination (FCLE) were successful.
Lake Butler Elementary School was one point shy from maintaining its 2023 “B” as it made its first “C” since 2002. A change made to this year’s school-grade calculation for elementary schools involved the third-grade ELA achievement score added as a stand-alone component of the grade. LBES third-grade ELA achievement scores saw 65% of students being proficient on the assessment, tying them for sixth highest school district in the state. This was up from 53% passing the assessment in 2023. Fourth-grade ELA achievement scores were 50%, matching the score from 2023. The ELA learning gains for LBES stood at 54%, while 53% of students in the bottom quartile made learning gains.
In the area of math, LBES third-grade students did very well; with 73% passing the assessment, which was up from 69% the previous year. This made Union County the third highest school district in the state for third-grade math scores. Fourth grade saw 57% of its students pass the assessment. Overall, LBES math achievement was at 65%, with 50% making learning gains but only 28% in the bottom quartile making learning gains. The 28% bottom quartile learning-gains, component was the main reason LBES dropped from a “B” to a “C.” For the 2024-25 school year, this will be an area that is given a great deal of attention.
The overall Union County School District maintained a score of a “B.” Across all schools, the district increased ELA achievement from 48% in 2023 to 52% in 2024. Math rose from 59% achievement in 2023 to 61% in 2024. Science fell overall to 43% achievement, down from 49% in 2023. Finally, social studies achievement scores rose to 73% in 2024 from 65% in 2023.
Overall, the Union County School District is still strong and moving in the right direction despite some minor setbacks in areas. Throughout the summer and in preparation for the 2024-25 school year, teachers and administration alike have worked diligently to identify areas of concerns and develop plans to address those area and improve instructional delivery so that both teachers and students will be more successful during the next school year.
Respectfully,
Mike Ripplinger
Union County Superintendent of Schools
