(BRADENTON, FL - July 8, 2008) An impressive 47% of Manatee District schools received an A-grade from the state based upon student performance on the Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test, according to data released Tuesday, July 8, 2008 by the Florida Department of Education.

Of the 53 Manatee District schools assessed, 25 earned the state´s highest grade, including Manatee High School which leaped to an A-grade this year after posting a D in 2007. Two other district high schools - Braden River High and Lakewood Ranch High - received A-grades this year following B grades in 2007. In total, 9 district schools raised their grades to an A this year and the total number of A schools in Manatee County rose from 18 in 2007 to 25 in 2008.

Overall, 35 of 53 district schools (66%) earned an A or B this year. Fourteen Manatee District schools received a C grade from the state and the number of D schools in the district dropped from eight in 2007 to three in 2008. Once again, there were no F schools in Manatee County.

Sixteen district schools improved their school grades from 2007 to 2008, including Tillman Elementary, a Title I school which raised its grade from a D in 2007 to a B this year.

“We´ve made some nice gains and we´re pleased with the results,” said Carla Frazier, Supervisor of Measurement and Data Analysis for the district. “New strategies such as the modified instructional week and more classroom walkthroughs by our administrators are paying off.”

Manatee District elementary schools that received an A grade include: Anna Maria, Bashaw, Braden River, Daughtrey, Freedom, Gullett, Kinnan, McNeal, Miller, Mills, Myakka, Palma Sola, Prine, Rowlett, Sea Breeze, Stewart, Willis and Witt.

Manatee District middle schools that received an A grade include: Haile, King, Nolan and Sugg.

Manatee District high schools that received an A grade include: Braden River, Lakewood Ranch and Manatee.

Adequately Yearly Progress results under the federal No Child Left Behind Act were also released today. PAL Academy Charter School was the only one of the district´s 10 Title I schools to make Adequately Yearly Progress. Title I schools, which receive federal funds because they have high percentages of low socioeconomic students, are the only schools subject to sanctions under NCLB guidelines.

According to the state´s school grades, the Manatee District´s Title I schools received the following grades: Ballard Elementary B; Daughtrey Elementary A; Johnson Middle C; Manatee Elementary C; Oneco Elementary C; Orange Ridge-Bullock C; Samoset Elementary C; Tillman Elementary B; and Wakeland Elementary C.