FCAT writing scores improve in grades 4 and 8

SARASOTA — On May 8 the Florida Department of Education (FLDOE) released the spring 2008 Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test (FCAT) Writing+ results for students in grades 4, 8, and 10. More than 9,200 Sarasota County Schools students participated in the spring 2008 FCAT Writing+ assessment.

FCAT Writing+ results are reported separately for each type of score: the total test score, which combines the essay and the multiple-choice portions of the test and ranges from 100 to 500; the essay score, scored on a 1 to 6 point scale; and by achievement levels, which range from 1 to 5. The following highlights are based on district and state summary data for all students tested, including Students with Disabilities and English Language Learners.

Highlights of the Spring 2008 FCAT Writing+ Assessment Results

Total Writing+ Scores

• The average writing scores increased by 7 points at grade 4, by 5 points at grade 8, and remained constant at grade 10. State average scores increased at all grade levels.

Sarasota students scored higher than students across the state at all three grades. District average scores are +29 and +16 points higher than state averages at grades 4 and 8.

Achievement Level Scores

• At each grade more students are proficient in writing in 2008 as compared to 2007. Conversely, fewer students are scoring in Levels 1 and 2 as compared to last year.
• The percent of students scoring at the proficient or higher levels, Achievement levels 3 – 5 increased from 71 to 74% at grade 4, from 56 to 59% at grade 8, and from 52 to 54% at grade 10.

Sarasota County surpasses the state in the percent of students who are proficient in writing.

Essay Scores

• The percent of students scoring at 3.5 or above on the essay has been increasing each year at grades 4 and 8. The tenth grade percentages declined in 2008 after holding constant over the past two years.
• The state percent proficient in 4th grade declined in 2008 as opposed to the district’s gain. At grade 8 the gains are similar. At grade 10, both the district and state experienced a drop in the percent proficient.
• The percent of students scoring 4.0 or higher on the essay increased by 3% at grade 4 whereas the state’s percentages decreased by 1 percent in 2008.
• At grades 8 and 10, the district follows state trends, with increased in the percent scoring 4.0 and higher at grade 8 and decreases at grade 10 as compared to 2007.

School-level reports are available online for viewing or printing as PDF files at fcat.fldoe.org.

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Lady Indians win state softball semifinal

Venice High School Lady Indians 2008

VENICE – The Venice High School girls’ varsity softball team advanced to the state Class 5A finals March 7 with a 7-0 win over Lakeland's George Jenkins High School. The win set the Lady Indians' season record at 31-0 and sent the team to its first appearance in a state championship game.

Pitcher Stephanie Sullivan led the team to the semi-final victory with a one-hit game that included 14 strikeouts. With that win, the Lady Indians posted their 20th shutout of the season.

Though their season ended with a 4-2 loss to Jacksonville's Bartram Trail High for the championship, the 2008 Lady Indians' 31-1 record was the best in the team's history. Congratulations to the Lady Indians for a spectacular season!

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Vote for Booker High grad Syesha Mercado on American Idol

Syesha Mercado and BHS classmate Crystal Blanche in 2005

Thanks for voting Tuesday, May 6, for 2005 Booker High graduate Syesha Mercado on American Idol

Keep voting Tuesday nights so Syesha can be the next American Idol

Link to Fox 4 Ft. Myers story about Syesha and BHS: Syesha Fox 4 story

About Syesha Mercado and Booker High School

Current American Idol contestant Syesha Mercado, who continues to compete this week on the popular Fox TV series, honed her performing skills at Booker High School’s Visual & Performing Arts (VPA) program.

Mercado is a 2005 graduate of the school and its VPA magnet program, which provides intensive, specialized training for students from throughout Sarasota County with special talents in dance, music, television and media arts, theatre (performance and technical) and the visual arts. Mercado made a big impact on Booker High’s faculty during her academic career at the school.

“I was Syesha's voice teacher, music teacher, accompanist and music director while she attended Booker High,” said Johnnie Mnich, VPA theatre music director. “She is a tremendous talent and, above all, a wonderful person. I had the joy of watching her grow and hearing her voice develop into the stalwart instrument it has become. What is happening for her is thrilling for all of us who know her and love her.”

VPA theatre teacher Scott Keys said he was impressed with Mercado the first time he saw her perform. “From the moment Syesha auditioned for our program as an incoming eighth-grader, I knew there was something remarkable and special about this young woman. The way she carried herself, her depth of character, personal integrity and maturity were all astonishing for a girl of her age.

“Over the years I had the opportunity to work with Syesha on a number of different productions. She simply commands a stage. You cannot take your eyes off of her, because she creates from her soul and her heart. I am proud of her accomplishments and honored to have been her teacher and director.”

Other Booker teachers commented that Mercado was dedicated to excellence in all her studies, not just performing-arts classes.

“I had Syesha Mercado in her junior year for English III Honors,” said Sandra Yerkes, Booker High School English teacher. “She was a bright, enthusiastic and energetic student. One assignment I particularly remember involved students memorizing and reciting a poem of their choice. Syesha recited Maya Angelou’s ‘Phenomenal Woman.’ The class was so impressed they gave her a standing ovation. I knew by the end of her time in my class that she would be successful in anything she attempted.”