Q: What can you tell us about the newly released state test results?
A: We are most pleased to have just received the second year of FAST results. St. Johns County was first in the state in all areas measured in reading — third through 10th grade. We did very well in math as well, first and second place in all grades, and much above the state average. For science, we were first for fifth grade and second for eighth grade. For the 21 elements that are measured, we scored first in the state in 16 of them, which matches our results from last year.
Not only did our students score highly, but the gap between first and second in the state continues to widen. Our students continue to excel and we are so proud of them as well as our excellent teachers who have done a superior job teaching our students the Florida standards.
Q: How did the students fare in End of Course exams?
A: For Civics, we were first in the state with a 97 percent pass rate and for Algebra I our students were first in the state with a 100 percent pass rate. We were second in the state in Geometry and first in the state in both Biology and US History.
Q: Do we have school grades yet?
A: No, because there are other elements such as graduation rates and performance of the lowest quartiles that have not been calculated yet. We expect school grades probably in September.
Q: With the beginning of the new school year in a few days, is it too late for parents to register their students?
A: No, not at all. We recommend that parents do this as soon as possible. Parents may access information regarding registration requirements and their child’s attendance zone by visiting the school district website at www.stjohns.k12.fl.us and clicking on the “Families” tab.
Q: What else do you have to share with District 1?
A: I have an interesting story from Durbin Creek Elementary. This school now has about 10 percent of its student population who are speakers of languages — Ukrainian, Russian, Chinese, Portuguese, French, Spanish — other than English. We issue non-English speaking students in our district an iPad with a translator downloaded on it so that the child can learn their teacher’s lesson with the rest of their class. The district just bought Durbin Creek Elementary 75 more of these iPads. These students are learning English very quickly due to English immersion. Staff at DCE have been proactive in engaging these students and their parents in inventive ways. For instance, they are planning after school clubs as a way for non-English speaking students to engage with one another and they are planning cross-cultural activities for the fall.
This increase in non-English speaking students is the case more and more in all of our schools. We are always seeking ways to integrate them and teach them our language so they can attain their highest level of learning along with their peers.
Q: How can our readers contact you?
A: They can email me at beverly.slough@stjohns.k12.fl.us or call me at (904) 547-7510.
