Warrington Middle School scores 'D' grade; will close and reopen as a charter school

The fate of Warrington Middle School has been sealed.

The Escambia County School District on Tuesday announced the school had received a final grade of D. The school had to earn at least a C grade or face a forced closure.

The school will continue operating as a public middle school for the 2022-2023 school year, before reopening as a charter school in 2023-2024 under a plan approved by the Florida State Board of Education.

"It would be a huge understatement to say we are disappointed," Superintendent Tim Smith said in a statement Tuesday evening. "Regardless of the grade issued to Warrington Middle School, it is not an accurate reflection of the effort put forth by students, teachers, administrators, parents, and community members.

"I am proud of the determination, grit, and no excuses attitude this team exhibited. They persevered, even as they faced many challenges."

While the Florida Department of Education released school grades for the 2021-2022 academic year last week, Warrington Middle did not initially receive a grade. Instead, the school was issued an "incomplete" while state officials worked to score a batch of booklets that was sent in late for grading.

The booklets contained test scores from a "set of the required 6th grade 'make-up' answer sheets" from students who originally missed the deadline for a state-mandated first assessment, according to the district.

"After these tests were scored, FLDOE was able to calculate a school grade of 'D' for Warrington Middle School," according to the district's statement.

The mandatory conversion to a charter school will pose a host of organizational challenges for the school district.

In the weeks and months leading up to Tuesday's announcement, school officials have spoken about their hope that a selected charter company, Charter USA, could be convinced to reopen the middle school as a zoned charter school catering to students who live in the Warrington area.

However, even if Charter USA could be convinced, district leaders and educators have said there is a high chance not every student currently zoned to attend Warrington would be able to attend the charter school.

The students who do not attend the charter would be dispersed among the next closest public middle schools to their homes that are eligible to receive transferred students.

The number of eligible schools is limited, and Smith has previously said students currently zoned to Warrington who do not end up attending the charter school could face up to hour-long bus rides to and from their new public schools.

Shortly before Warrington's final grade was announced Tuesday, Stephanie Crapps spoke to the News Journal and said she was pleasantly surprised by her daughter's middle school experience last year.

Around this time last summer, Crapps said she was feeling apprehensive about sending her daughter to Warrington because of the school's reputation. But Crapps changed her mind after learning Denny Wilson would be taking over as the school's principal.

Wilson, who has a history of turning around low performing schools, was brought into Warrington last year in a last ditch effort by the district to protect the school's public status. He was principal of Oakcrest Elementary School when three of Crabbs' children attended.

"He did an amazing job there," Crapps said of Wilson. "He was always involved. He has always stayed involved, and this year, he just brought the same thing — the same energy — it was always about the kids."

Crapps added that her faith in Wilson even led her to have hope Warrington would make its needed C.

"I really think they pushed this year to get that C up, and I am really glad that they had a chance at doing it,: Crapps said. "Turning that school into a charter school is really not going to help the community or the kids ... if they take another public school away.”

Crapps' daughter is now a rising seventh-grader at Warrington Middle School who is looking forward to the fall.

"She's looking forward to it," Crapps said. "I mean, I'm looking forward to this school year, too."

Colin Warren-Hicks can be reached at colinwarrenhicks@pnj.com or 850-435-8680.

This article originally appeared on Pensacola News Journal: Warrington Middle School in Escambia County earns D school grade