Levy schools get a ‘C’

High grades for two Levy County middle schools were the highlights of a mixed group of school grade results.
Levy County schools received a C rating as a whole from the Florida Department of Education for the 2011-2012 school year.
A more difficult set of academic standards, and the transition to meet these requirements, factored into this year's grade, said Superintendent Robert Hastings.
"This comes as no surprise given the nature of the changes," Hastings said, "We anticipated that this would happen. Overall we're very happy."
The district grade comes from a compilation of grades from individual schools. The grades only take into account elementary and middle school grades. High school grades will not be released until December and will have no impact on the county's overall grade.
Both Chiefland Middle School and Williston High School received A ratings. It is the fifth-straight year both schools have scored the highest possible grade.
"Both schools did a phenomenal job," Hastings said.
Yankeetown School received the county's lone B rating, slipping from A scores in 2011 and 2010. Whispering Winds Charter School and Nature Coast Middle School, also a charter school, both received C ratings.  
Chiefland Elementary School and Williston Elementary received C ratings as well. Williston dropped from B ratings in 2011 and 2010. Chiefland, a B school last year, was an A school in 2010 and 2009. This is the first C for WES since 2000 and first C for CES since 2005.
"It's not the fault of our schools. They are doing all they can do," said School Board Chairperson Paige Brookins. "I don't know if school grades are a true reflection of the potential of our students."