CLAY COUNTY – For the fourth consecutive time, the Clay County District Schools earned an “A” rating Monday from the Florida Department of Education, and it posted the second-highest scores statewide in social studies and fourth-highest in science.

“I’ve always said: Clay County is a great place to live. It’s a great place to work. And it’s a great place for students to go to school,” Superintendent David Broskie said. “We are so proud of how our students performed. It’s a testament to the teachers, staff, parents and the community at large.”

According to the FDE, the Accountability Report provides metrics to measure a school’s performance so parents and the public can understand how well a school is serving its students. The state recently aligned itself to the Benchmarks for Excellence Student Thinking Standards, which include the Florida Assessment of Student Thinking and end-of-course assessments.

It was the fourth time Clay schools earned an “A” in five years and ranked among the top 10 in the state. County schools didn’t receive a grade for the 2021 school year during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Thirteen elementary schools earned an “A” rating: Orange Park, Doctors Inlet, Middleburg, Clay Hill, Lake Asbury, R.M. Paterson, McRae, Fleming Island, Thunderbolt, Rideout, Shadowlawn, Discovery Oaks and Plantation Oaks. Fleming Island extended its streak of being an “A” school to 24 years, dating back to 1999, while Orange Park has been an “A” school for 21 consecutive years.

At the same time, Orange Park, Keystone Heights, Lakeside, R.M. Paterson, Fleming Island, Thunderbolt and Discovery Oaks were recognized as Schools of Excellence.

Green Cove Springs and Lakeside junior highs are Schools of Excellence. They joined Lake Asbury as an “A” school.

Five high schools earned “A” marks: Middleburg, Ridgeview, Fleming Island and Oakleaf. Keystone Heights Junior/Senior High also received an “A.”

None of the district’s 43 schools failed, but Grove Park dropped from a “C” last year to a “D.”

Eight schools moved up one-grade level compared to last year, while seven dropped one.

“A ton of work goes into it, not only the formation of curriculum that will help students be successful but also the instructional strategies used in the classroom and the professional development that goes along with that,” Broskie said. “There is a lot that goes into it. I’m extremely proud of the entire organization.”

The only district with a higher social studies grade was neighboring St. Johns County. Nassau, Walton and St. Johns were the only districts to finish higher than Clay in science.

The state uses grades to identify schools that excel or need help. While Clay’s numbers were impressive, some figures buried deep in the report highlighted significant improvements.

According to FDE, 78% of fourth-grade and 73% of sixth-grade students at R.M. Paterson Elementary demonstrated markable learning gains compared to last year. Other gains came from 78% of sixth-graders at Lakeside Elementary, 76% of fifth-graders at Swimming Pen Elementary, 74% of fourth-graders and 72% of sixth-graders at Fleming Island Elementary, 74% of fourth-graders at Discovery Oaks Elementary and 70% of Tynes Elementary fifth-graders also posted learning gains.

“We’re in the top 10 in most categories, and we’re looking forward to the future,” Broskie said. “Our goal is to provide a world-class education to students in Clay County. I think these school grades reflect the quality of the education students receive.

“Of course, you still ask yourself, how can we improve? You never reach Nirvana, but you always try.”