To Everyone Concerned about Education
Dear Board Members
Subject: School YE Student Test Results – Disappointing
This letter is a follow-up to our January 5th letter and subsequent meeting where we noted mid-year poor test results in several critical areas. In discussions we were assured that supplemental actions to improve student outcomes and competency were in progress and the year-end results would reflect improvement.
At recent meeting school board meetings, board members indicated the results would show a significant improvement, yet the year end test data drastically refutes this assertion.
We continue to have a problem in this county of achieving NOT competitive student outcomes, our students, parents and community deserves better. Harkens to a famous quote from Albert Einstein.
“We cannot solve our problems with the same thinking we used when we created them.”
Attached you will find a table comparing 2025 year-end results to 2026 year-end results as published by Florida Department of Education (DOE) for Marion County School District. The data scores were evaluated via paired student t-test statistical methods to determine if there was actually a statistical improvement.
Other data in the summary table are DOE reported percentages of students below grade level (levels 1* and 2**), as well as the percentage of students dramatically lacking subject competency at level1. This letter will focus on overall County performance and specifically 3rd grade, as educators have indicated this grade is critical to achieve strong reading and math fundamentals to “grow” and achieve academically in subsequent grades.
Key highlights:
- Marion County dropped overall from the 2025 “B” ranking to a 2026“C” ranking
- Marion County School District ranks 58th out of 67 Florida school districts – an abysmal ranking
- In math; across grades 3 to 8 – 48% of students scored below their respective grade level; therefore out of 18,347 students tested – 8,883 scored at level 1 or 2 (below grade level).
o Marion County 45% on or above grade level vs state average of 53%.- again lagging
- In reading / language arts: across grades 3 to 10 – 49% of students scored below the respective grade level, therefore, out of 26,683 students tested almost 13,000 scored below grade level.
o Marion Couty 43% on or above grade vs state average of 52%. – again lagging
Third Grade Metrics of Schools Performance 2025 vs 2026
- 3rd Grade Reading / Language Arts
o no statistical improvement across all Marion schools for 2025 vs 2026
o 55% below grade level / 30% at level 1 (failing)
o Ranked of 61 out of 67 Fl school districts
- 3rd Grade Math Marion County School reading ranking against all other counties
o statistical improvement across all Marion schools for 2025 vs 2026
o 45% below grade level / 23% at level 1 (failing)
o Ranked of 60 out of 67 Fl school districts
Overall: Language Arts – no improvement / 50% below grade and almost one-third failing.
Math: statistical improvement (weak) / yet 45% below grade level with almost one-quarter failing
The attached table provides additional data for your review and evaluation.
The overall assessment of the test schools indicates the student population is not achieving adequate results. This continued poor performance indicates another generation of students will exit Marion County schools without the required skills for advanced education and / or work in trades requiring basic math and reading competency. Yes, there are exceptional students in our school system and we celebrate their achievements; however, on aggregate an overall state ranking of 58 out of 67 is not acceptable.
Our Ask:
We urge the school board to implement drastic action versus incremental changes and seek guidance and counsel from other states that have shown dramatic improvement (e.g. MS). Level 1 students need immediate support to be able to academically progress versus administrative promotions. This overall continued lagging performance could deter perspective residents from settling in the County given the School District’s continued poor academic scores and ranking. Respectfully submitted on behalf of the Marion County Republican Executive Committee, please feel free to contact us if there are any questions.
Len M Racioppi Brigitte Smith
- Chair MCREC Chair MCREC
