Santa Rosa County District Schools proudly announces its recognition as an A-rated school district for the 2022-23 school year, according to the recently released Informational Baseline School Grades and District Grades by the Florida Department of Education.
In this commendable achievement, six elementary schools within the district earned an A rating, with five schools showing marked improvement by advancing a letter grade. Furthermore, three middle schools attained an A grade, showcasing the district’s commitment to excellence across all levels of education. Among the high schools, two earned an A, with one school demonstrating improvement by advancing a letter grade. Additionally, a combination school within the district secured an A rating.
Superintendent Dr. Karen Barber said, “The school board and I are extremely proud that Santa Rosa County District Schools is once again an A school district, based on the performance of our students during the 2022-2023 school year: one of only 16 school districts in Florida! I want to express my heartfelt gratitude to our students and their families, as well as the 3,500 educators who are dedicated to the success of our students. Six schools increased their rating by a full grade, with others making significant progress.”
Schools that achieved an A for the 2022-23 school year include:
- Chumuckla Elementary
- Gulf Breeze Elementary
- Holley-Navarre Intermediate
- Oriole Beach Elementary
- S. S. Dixon Intermediate
- West Navarre Intermediate
- Gulf Breeze Middle
- Holley-Navarre Middle
- Sims Middle
- Gulf Breeze High
- Navarre High
- East Bay K-8
Schools that improved a letter grade from the previous year:
- Chumuckla Elementary
- Jay Elementary
- Holley-Navarre Intermediate
- Pea Ridge Elementary
- Bennett C. Russell Elementary
- Milton High
Mike Thorpe, Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum, Instruction, and Assessment, expressed his enthusiasm, stating, “We are very excited that Santa Rosa County District Schools achieved excellence, securing an A-rating through dedicated educators, determined students, strong leadership, innovative programs, and unwavering community involvement, thus fostering academic achievement and student success.” “We saw many schools increase their letter grade, and we are proud of improvements across the district. We are currently analyzing the data from DOE and will be addressing areas of improvement.”
Per the Florida Department of Education, the 2022-2023 school grades, incorporating new assessment results and cut scores, serve as an informational baseline. These grades aim to guide schools and districts in their pursuit of improved performance, aligning with state law (s. 1008.34(7), F.S.). FLDOE has clarified that no negative consequences shall result from these grades; they are purely informational. However, schools may benefit from these grades by qualifying for School Recognition and/or exiting turnaround status.
“Santa Rosa County School District remains committed to excellence by providing quality education, increasing the learning opportunities for students, including an expansion of STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics) programs, Career Technical Education, advance placement, dual enrollment, and fine arts,” says Barber. “The school district’s A rating is a clear indicator that our students are excelling on the pathway to a lifetime of success.”
