What was the outcome of this year’s state assessment for Collier schools?

Earlier this week, the Florida Department of Education announced the ratings for all public schools in the state. The Collier County Public Schools kept their ranking from the previous year; however, some of the district’s schools had their grades rise.

For the sixth consecutive year, Collier earned an A rating. There are just 16 districts in the state that receive an A. Collier is ranked sixth in the state out of 67 school districts, according to a recent article by Kendall Little of Naples Daily News.

47 of the county’s 50 public schools were rated as either A or B. There were no schools classified as a D or an F, and just three schools were given a C.

Everglades City School, Poinciana Elementary, Palmetto Elementary, and Golden Gate Elementary all went from a B to an A. This year, Lely High, East Naples Middle, and Avalon Elementary raised their grades from a C to a B.

This year, the state replaced the previous high-stakes testing system with a new one based on progress tracking. This year’s grades are merely a starting point and carry no negative weight.

Schools and districts will receive grades based on their improvement from the previous year in addition to their test results. Schools and districts that demonstrate improvement will receive a higher grade.

“What’s really amazing is that none of our schools receive a D or an F,” Superintendent Dr. Leslie Ricciardelli stated to the Naples Daily News. “Especially considering our demographics, don’t you think? Both English-language learners and children who are eligible for free or reduced lunches make up a sizable portion of our student body.”

According to Ricciardelli, the district’s A rating is the consequence of the diligent efforts of parents, administrators, instructors, and students. According to her, parents are crucial to their kids’ success.

“Schools will go out of their way to make sure that they find a way to communicate with parents,” Ricciardelli stated. “It’s always important to us because they are the experts on their children, and we need their input and we need their support.”

Parental support, according to Ricciardelli, does not always entail regular attendance at school events or meetings.

“Opening the lines of communication between the school and home is always really critical,” Ricciardelli stated. “That does not imply that parents must visit the school. We may contact them by email, phone conversations, and virtual meetings, among other channels.”

The district is now in the process of developing a schedule for the 2025–2026 academic year. Parents can provide feedback to the district using an online survey.

According to Ricciardelli, the district frequently sends out surveys to get parent feedback on school-related matters. This aids in the creation of a five-year strategic plan by district officials.

In order to maintain the district’s A rating and keep getting better, the superintendent stated that the district will collaborate closely with all schools—not just the B and C ones.

This article originally appeared in the Naples Daily News.