CLAY COUNTY – According to the Florida Department of Education, the Clay County District Schools continue to make the grade.

According to figures released in the Florida Assessment of Student Thinking program between kindergarten through 10th grade, the district maintained its position as a Top 10 performer compared to the other 66 districts in Florida, with a marketable improvement in reading.

Seventh-grade students finished No. 1 in the state, Superintendent David Broskie said, and the District finished third overall in civics for all grades.

“I'm immensely proud of the outstanding test data recently released by the Florida Department of Education,” Broskie said. “We've got a pretty good thing going. Every year I always say that. But we have great people in the schools working hard and great parents who care about their kids. And we’ve got a community that cares, too. That's not true everywhere.

“Our District has scored above the state average in every grade and every grade level.”

The FAST is aligned with the Benchmarks of the Excellence of Student Thinking assessment, which monitors a student’s progress three times a year—at the beginning, mid-term and end of the school year.

Clay County also finished fourth overall in U.S. history, fourth in English and 11th in math and science. The District’s eighth graders were fifth in the state in science and sixth in biology.

The biggest improvement, however, came in reading. The District jumped four spots, from 12th in the state to eighth, compared to the 2022-2023 school year.

“That's a big move for us,” Broskie said. “I'm very proud of our reading scores.”

The FDE grades are expected to be released during the first week of August. Clay County is expected to maintain its “A” rating.

”And so we've got a lot to be proud of the Clay County,” the Superintendent said. “It starts at home. You have to stay after your young ones and keep them focused, along with community support.

“It takes both people in the school system. It takes parents doing their part, but it also takes community support. And we do have a community that supports public education.”