Published: June 19, 2009 03:41 pm      

SCHOOLS: Suwannee gains ground in grade chase

Two schools in Suwannee County are up a grade from last year with the release of the state's annual ratings report.

Suwannee Intermediate School and Branford Elementary have both gone from C-rated schools to “B” schools. This is good news for the district.

Suwannee High School remained a C-rated school, Suwannee Middle remained a “B” school and Branford High School, the only “A” school in the district, held on to its “A” rating.

Federally funded schools are rated based on whether they are meeting state standards or making gains in reading, math, writing and science. The state uses these rating to determine which schools are making Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP). AYP -- part of the federal No Child Left Behind Act -- determines how much practical and financial support is needed to help schools reach federal and state proficiency goals.

Schools with a high number of low-income student and those that receive a state grade of "D" or "F" receive funding to help better educate students. Schools that receive an "A" or improve by one performance grade from the year before, are eligible to earn $75 per student. Those that receive “B” and “C” grades receive state funding and support based on determined amounts necessary to help raise scores, according to the Florida Department of Education.