School grades are out. How did Lake County and Sumter County schools score?

Julie Garisto, Leesburg Daily Commercial
·4 min read
Lost Lake Elementary in Clermont improved from a C last year to an A this year.
Lost Lake Elementary in Clermont improved from a C last year to an A this year.

Offering a handful of surprises but mostly holding steady, the state Department of Education released its district and school grades Wednesday.

The Lake County school district received an overall B grade, which has been its score for the past eight years. The Sumter, Orange, Seminole and Brevard districts scored A grades. Marion had a C, just one point shy of a B.

Flagler, Osceola and Volusia join Lake with a B.

Sumter is this year's success story, with the lion's share of schools that have gone up a grade. Two schools in both counties improved two letter grades.

Marlene Straughan, finalist for principal of the year last year as the leader of Mount Dora High for the 2022-23 school year, was recently promoted to regional executive director for Region 1 in Lake County Schools. Before leaving her position, she marshaled Mount Dora High from a B to an A this year.

More changes in school leadership: The annual shuffle: Lake County schools announce new principals, administrative appointments

Which other schools improved? Which ones maintained, and which ones dropped a grade? See our list below.

Also, if you don't see a Lake County school below, visit fldoe.org/accountability/accountability-reporting/school-grades for updates.

ESE center schools maintain and one slips

Alternative schools and exceptional student education (ESE) center schools may choose to receive a school improvement rating in lieu of a school grade. Detailed information about school improvement ratings can be found in the Guide to Calculating School Improvement Ratings (PDF).

Unfortunately, no Lake County ESE center schools have shown improvement.

Lake County ESE center schools showing they're maintaining progress include Alee Academy Charter School, Lake Success Academy and Lake Hills School. A school with an "unsatisfactory" score includes The Academy at Lake Hills School-South.

Schools scoring an A this year with last year's score

* Asterisk for schools with improvement or drop in score from last year to this year.

Altoona School, 2023-24: A, 2022-23: A

* Bushnell Elementary, 2023-24: A, 2022-23: B

Cypress Ridge Elementary, 2023-24: A, 2022-23: A

East Ridge Middle: 2023-24: A, 2022-23: A

Imagine Schools at South Lake: 2023-24: A, 2022-23: A

*Lake Panasoffkee Elementary: 2023-24: A, 2022-23: B

*Lost Lake Elementary: 023-24: A, 2022-23: C

Minneola Conversion Charter School: 2023-24: A, 2022-23: A

* Mount Dora High: 2023-24: A, 2022-23: B

Pinecrest Academy Tavares: 2023-24: A, 2022-23: A

* Pinecrest Lakes Academy Four Corners: 2023-24: A, 2022-23: B

* South Sumter Middle School: 2023-24: A, 2022-23: C

Villages Charter School: 2023-24: A, 2022-23: A

* Wildwood Elementary School: 2023-24: A, 2022-23: C

Schools scoring a B

Grassy Lake Elementary: 2023-24: B, 2022-23: B

Lake Minneola High: 2023-24: B, 2022-23: B

* Mascotte Elementary: 2023-24: B, 2022-23: C

* Mount Dora Middle School: 2023-24: B, 2022-23: C

Pine Ridge Elementary: 2023-24: B, 2022-23: B

Seminole Springs Elementary: 2023-24: B, 2022-23: B

* South Lake High School: 2023-24: B, 2022-23: C

South Sumter High: 2023-24: B, 2022-23: B

* Spring Creek Charter School: 2023-24: B, 2022-23: C

* Tavares High: 2023-24: B, 2022-23: C

The Villages Elementary of Lady Lake: 2023-24: B, 2022-23: B

* Umatilla Middle School: 2023-24: B, 2022-23: C

Webster Elementary: 2023-24: B, 2022-23: B

Windy Hill Middle: 2023-24: B, 2022-23: B

* Wildwood Middle/High School: 2023-24: B, 2022-23: C

Schools scoring a C

Beverly Shores Elementary: 2023-24: C, 2022-23: C

Carver Middle School: 2023-24: C, 2022-23: C

Eustis Elementary School: 2023-24: C, 2022-23: C

Eustis Heights Elementary School: 2023-24: C, 2022-23: C

Eustis High School: 2023-24: C, 2022-23: C

Fruitland Park Elementary School: 2023-24: C, 2022-23: C

Gray Middle School: 2023-24: C, 2022-23: C

Lake Virtual Franchise: 2023-24: C, 2022-23: C

* Sorrento Elementary: 2023-24: C, 2022-23: B

Tavares Elementary School: 2023-24: C, 2022-23: C

Tavares Middle School: 2023-24: C, 2022-23: C

* Treadway Elementary School: 2023-24: C, 2022-23: B

Triangle Elementary School: 2023-24: C, 2022-23: C

Umatilla High School: 2023-24: C, 2022-23: B

This year's school grades are based on a new scale approved just before their release by the state education board. It is the first year grades take into account the new Florida Assessments of Student Thinking (FAST), a mandatory test that students take statewide.

The grading scale increased for all schools except elementary schools. No Lake County schools, among those reported and released to the public, received a D or F.

"The State Board of Education voted on amendments to rule that adjust the school grading scale so that elementary schools are graded using the scale that was previously used from 2014-15 to 2021-22, and all other school types are graded using a new scale," a DOE press release explained, adding that the new measurements consider the different components included in the school grade formula for different school types and ensures an accurate reflection of progress made.

This article originally appeared on Daily Commercial: Florida school grades for 2024: How did Lake and Sumter schools fare?