Schools

Sickles, Alonso Students Earn B Grades

Hillsborough County high schools earned higher marks than ever before.

When the Florida Department of Education released grades for high schools today, Hillsborough County found reason to celebrate.

Twenty-five of the district’s 27 schools earned A or B grades for the 2010-11 school year – a record, according to Hillsborough school district spokesman Stephen P. Hegarty.

Both Westchase high schools, Alonso and Sickles, earned B’s, according to the department of education’s website.

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Sickles had earned an A grade for the past three years, said school principal Jake Russell.

"We're disappointed with the B, but we're really proud of what our students and teachers have accomplished," Russell said. "We're working this 2011-2012 school year to get back to an A."

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Alonso’s grade has consistently been a B since 2008-09. It did, however, earn an A during the 2007-08 school year.

The county school district as a whole had 93 percent of its high schools earn A or B grades. This is an increase from last year’s 79 percent. Five of the county’s schools – Brandon, Chamberlain, Steinbrenner, Plant City and Spoto – earned A grades for the very first time.

Statewide 78 percent of high schools made A or B grades.

School grades are based on a number of factors including FCAT scores, participation in accelerated courses and graduation rates.

For more information about school grades, visit the department of education online.


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