Alachua County Public Schools (ACPS) received a B grade for the 2024-25 school year, coming within two points of an A, according to data released Monday by the Florida Department of Education (FLDOE).  

This is the third year in a row the district has earned a B since the state restarted its school grading system after the COVID-19 pandemic.  

According to an ACPS press release, student performance on statewide assessments is the essential basis for determining the school grade. 

Additional criteria, such as graduation rate, participation and performance in advanced courses, and college and career readiness, are also considered for secondary schools, the release said.  

The state also places additional emphasis on the test scores of lower-performing students when determining school grades, including both their overall scores and their gains from year to year, the release said.  

The district saw improvement in most of the state’s grading components, including overall achievement in English Language Arts, math, social studies and College and Career Acceleration, which includes such factors as students passing advanced courses and earning career certifications. 

According to the release, 22 of the district’s traditional (non-charter) schools received A and B grades this year, which is higher than the 19 reported last year. 

Additionally, no schools within the district received failing grades this year; however, three schools – Foster, Shell and Williams Elementary Schools – earned D grades and will be designated as SI (School Improvement) schools for the 2025-26 school year.  

Two schools that were formerly categorized as SI schools – Alachua Elementary and Rawlings Elementary – increased from a D to a C, removing them from SI status. 

Other schools that also bumped up their grade included: 

• Littlewood Elementary School (B-A) 

• Meadowbrook Elementary School (B-A) 

• Norton Elementary School (C-B) 

• Bishop Middle School (C-B) 

• Ft. Clarke Middle School (B-A) 

• Kanapaha Middle School (B-A) 

• Eastside High School (C-B) 

• Gainesville High School (B-A) 

• Santa Fe High School (C-B)  

A complete list of ACPS grades for 2024-25 can be found here.  

To further strengthen achievement across the district, ACPS has launched a variety of initiatives.  

Starting this upcoming school year, literacy specialists will be embedded in every school to support reading and writing instruction across all curricular areas. The district is also expanding its use of Instructional Empowerment, which, according to the release, is “a system designed to boost student academic outcomes through changes in instructional practice focusing on a rigorous student-centered model of instruction.” 

Since January, the district has adopted new tools that allow teachers and administrators to quickly access and analyze real-time student performance data. School and district leaders now participate in regular Data Dialogues to review progress, share best practices and guide instructional decision-making. 

“The most successful instructional strategies are driven by data,” said ACPS Interim Superintendent Kamela Patton, who implemented the Data Dialogues shortly after joining the district in late November. “By constantly reviewing student progress—from the district level to the classroom and down to the individual student—we can more effectively identify and apply strategies that will help every child succeed.” 

Nick Anschultz is a Report for America corps member and writes about education for Mainstreet Daily News.