Rick Patrick: Greene Publishing, Inc.
According to the just-released school grades report from the Florida Department of Education, for the 2017 school year, the grades for the Madison County District show some improvement, although there is still cause for concern. The District's overall grade remains a “C.” This is unchanged from the 2016 school year.
Individually, one school within the District has improved, while another dropped. Most Madison County schools remained the same. Madison County High School improved their grade from a “D” in 2016 to a “C” in 2017. Greenville Elementary School dropped from a “B” in 2016 to a “C” in 2017. The remaining schools' grades remained the same. Lee Elementary School's grade remained a “C,” Pinetta Elementary School kept their “A” grade. James Madison Prep. High School's remained a “C.” Madison Creative Arts Academy received an “A” grade. This is the first year the Creative Arts Academy has received a grade. Madison County Central School received another “D” grade.
This is especially concerning for MCCS. According to Dr. Karen Pickles, Madison County Superintendent of Schools, MCCS has one year in which to bring up that grade to at least a “C” or else risk having an outside charter school company take over operation at MCCS. The areas of seventh grade algebra and eighth grade science will be areas of particular focus this year at MCCS. Improving in these two areas of study will make great strides toward improving the school's overall grade. Dr. Pickles has called a mandatory meeting of teachers and administrators at MCCS on Friday, July 14, in order to address the serious situation at MCCS.