Florida School Indicators Report

Indicator Descriptions

The percentage of students from the total enrollment who were absent 21 or more days during the school year. District- and state-level data is calculated by school type.

ACT

The number of students tested, the percentage of 12th graders tested, and the composite score for students tested on the American College Test, an aptitude test widely used for college placement and admission purposes. Figures are presented for high schools only, but district and state results may include examinees enrolled in alternative schools as well as regular high schools.

Average Class Size

Shown for years through 2001-02. For current data on class size, see the website at http://www.fldoe.org/arm/class-size.asp .

Grades K-5* (elementary schools), shown as a single average for all classes, rounded to one decimal.

Grades 6-8* (middle schools), shown as an average for each of four subject areas: math, science, social studies, and language arts.

Grades 9-12* (high schools), shown as an average for each of four subject areas: math, science, social studies, and language arts.

ESE classes, ESOL classes, and Dropout Prevention classes are not included in figures for represented schools.

*Various scheduling options may affect averages.

Classes Taught by Out-of-Field Teachers

The percentage of classes in core academic courses being taught by classroom teachers who are teaching out of field. Core academic courses are English, reading, language arts, mathematics, science, foreign languages, civics, government, economics, arts, history, and geography. Results are reported for the school, district, and state. District and state results are not differentiated by school type. Information is provided for 2002-03 and later years.

Disabilities

The percentage of students from the October membership count with a primary exceptionality who are classified as having mild, moderate, and/or severe disabilities. Students in exceptional student education (ESE) programs are counted, except for students in programs for the gifted. However, a student who is classified with a primary exceptionality (disability) and who is also enrolled in a program for the gifted is counted. A student may belong to more than one program, but is counted only once. District- and state-level data is calculated according to school type. Percentages are calculated by dividing the total number of students with disabilities by the school’s October membership.

Dropout Rate

The percentage calculated by dividing (a) the number of students in grades 9-12 for whom a dropout withdrawal reason was reported by (b) the year's total enrollment for grades 9-12. District and state rates include students in alternative schools and exceptional education schools.

English Language Learners

The percentage of the school’s students who are ELL students served in English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) programs. The count is determined at the end of the school year. Percentages are calculated by dividing the total number of ELL/ESOL students by the school’s total enrollment. For this indicator, total enrollment includes all students who were in attendance at any time during the school year. Data is calculated according to school type.

Finance -- Per-Pupil Expenditures

Per-pupil dollar-figure expenditures shown for four program areas: Regular, Exceptional (ESE), At-Risk, and Vocational. Data is not compiled according to school type. Data is available for 1997-98 and later years. Volusia County data is not included in the 1999-2000 information.

Finance -- Operating Costs

Per-student cost for school operations, shown in dollar amount. Data is not compiled according to school type. Data is available for 1997-98 and later years. Volusia County data is not included in the 1999-2000 information.

Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test (FCAT), Sunshine State Standards

The percentage of examinees placing at each achievement level on a range from Level 1(lowest) to Level 5 (highest) in the mathematics and reading subtests of the FCAT for the grades 3 through 10.* Results are provided for the following school types: elementary, middle, and high. District and state results are calculated separately by grade level but not by specific school type (i.e., district and state results are percentages for all examinees at the grade level(s) shown and may include students from alternative schools as well as regular elementary, middle, and high schools). Data is available for 1998-99 and later years.

*Years prior to 2001-02 show results for grades 4 (reading only), 5 (math only), 8, and 10.

Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test (FCAT), Florida Writing Assessment

A statewide assessment of writing proficiency administered to 4th, 8th, and 10th grade students. Figures show the number of students tested and the percentage of students who scored 3.0 or higher on the test. Working independently, students are given 45 minutes to read a topic, plan and write their responses. Scores range from a low of zero to a high of 6. Topics for fourth grade students elicit either an expository or a narrative mode of response. Topics for eighth and tenth grade students elicit either an expository or a persuasive (argumentative) mode of response. Data is compiled by grade level. For schools where there are fewer than ten examinees, no data is shown. Data is available for 1997-98 and later years.

Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test (FCAT), Norm-Referenced Test Results - Grades 3-10

The number of students tested and the median national percentile ranking (NPR) of students tested for each grade level (grades 3-10) in mathematics and reading. An NPR of 50 equals the national average. Data is available for 1999-2000 and later years.

Follow-up of Graduates

The percentage of followed-up graduates from the previous year who were found to be employed (full time and part time), the percentage of employed graduates who are working part time, the percentage of graduates found to be continuing education, and the percentage of continuing education graduates who are also working. Follow-up includes only graduates with valid social security numbers. Follow-up information is provided by the Florida Education and Training Placement Information Program (FETPIP).

Free/Reduced-Price Lunch

The percentage of students eligible for free or reduced-price lunch. The percentage is arrived at by dividing the number of students eligible for free or reduced-price lunch, as determined in October, by the student membership in October. Data is compiled by school type, but is excluded for high schools.

Gifted

The percentage of students in programs for the gifted. The percentage is determined by dividing the number of students enrolled in programs for the gifted (i.e., students classified with a primary exceptionality as gifted) by the total student membership in October. Data is compiled by school type, but is excluded for high schools.

Graduation Rate

The percentage of students who have graduated within four years of entering ninth grade for the first time. Students who transfer out of the school or district to attend school elsewhere or to enroll in an adult-education program are removed from the group of students (cohort) tracked. Incoming transfer students, at the time of their enrollment, are included in the count of the class with which they are scheduled to graduate and are tracked accordingly. A graduate is defined as a student who receives a standard diploma, a special diploma, or a diploma awarded after successful completion of the GED examination. Certificate recipients are not included. Although the school-level rate is shown only for regular high schools, district and state rates cover all schools with graduates, which may include schools other than regular high schools (e.g., alternative education centers). Data is available for 1998-99 and later years.

High School Competency Test (HSCT)

A basic skills test in mathematics and communications administered to Florida students in eleventh grade. Data is shown as the number of students tested and the percentage of students passing each subtest. Students must pass both subtests to graduate with a standard diploma. Data is not compiled by school type. The percentage of students passing is calculated by dividing the number of students who passed the test by the total number of students who took the test. This test is administered only to students who have not already satisfied minimum skills requirements in mathematics and communications on the 10th grade FCAT. Data is available for years prior to 2000-01.

Incidents of Crime and Violence

The total number of incidents occurring on school grounds, on school transportation, or at school-sponsored events and reported by the school district as incidents for purposes of data collection. Incidents are reported for the following categories: violent acts against persons; possession of alcohol, tobacco, and other drugs; property offenses; fighting and harassment; weapons possession; other nonviolent offenses and disorderly conduct; and totals. Data broken out by categories is available for 1998-99 and later years. Results are calculated by school type for 2001-02 and beyond.

Limited English Proficient

The term Limited English Proficient was replaced by English Language Learner beginning in 2006-07

Mobility Rate

The rate at which students move into or out of the school population during the school year, shown as a percentage. It is calculated by dividing (a) the total number of new entries, reentries, and withdrawals during the 180-day school year by (b) the total number of students who were enrolled at the start of the school year. The mobility rate is calculated by school type. Data is available for years prior to 2000-01. This indicator was replaced by the stability rate beginning in 2000-01.

SAT

The number of students tested, the percentage of 12th graders tested, and the mean score for students tested on the SAT, a national aptitude test widely used for college placement and admission purposes. District and state results may include examinees enrolled in alternative schools as well as regular high schools. Beginning in 2007 the mean score for students tested includes reading, math and writing results due to the addition of a writing subtest.

School Grade

A letter grade, A through F, assigned to each school based on student performance on the Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test in reading, math, and writing. School grading criteria also are affected by a school's demonstration of improvement from one year to the next. Grades are provided only at the school level (i.e., districts and the state are not assigned an overall grade).

Additional information is available via the Office of Evaluation and Reporting Services at (850) 245-0700. Data is available for 1998-1999 and later years.

School Staff

The staff composition shown by category: total number of school staff, percentage of instructional staff, administrative staff, and support staff. Data is compiled according to school type.

Stability Rate

The percentage of students from the October membership count who are still present in the second semester (February count). District and state-level data is calculated by school type.

Student Membership

The total number of students in school as measured during the fall survey period in October; also known as fall membership. Data is compiled according to school type.

Suspensions

The percentage of students from the total enrollment who served in-school suspensions during the 180-day school year, and the percentage who served out-of-school suspensions during the 180-day school year, based on an unduplicated count. (I.e., if a student is suspended more than once, he or she is still counted only once.) Data is calculated by school type.

Teachers -- Advanced Degrees

The percentage of teachers with a master’s degree, a doctorate, or a specialist’s degree. For purposes of this indicator, teachers are defined as professionals who are paid on the instructional salary schedule negotiated by a Florida school district. Data is compiled by school type for years prior to 2002-03. For 2002-03 and later years, data is not compiled by school type.

Teachers -- Average Years of Experience

The average number of years of teaching experience for teachers at the school. Both in-state and out-of-state experience is counted. Data is not compiled by school type.