Latest news with #CharterSchoolsUSA
Yahoo
07-07-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Warrington Prep earns D grade again. Charter school at risk of closure
The 2024-25 school grades are out and Warrington Preparatory Academy received a 'D" for a second consecutive year, putting its charter at risk. Overall districtwide, Escambia County Public Schools earned a 'B' grade, and the Santa Rosa County District Schools received an 'A,' according to Florida Department of Education data released today. Escambia schools earned 16 'A' grades, 18 'B' grades, 16 'C' grades and 3 'D' grades. Santa Rosa schools earned 15 'A' grades, 9 'B' grades, 5 'C' grades, and 1 'F.' Find your Escambia County school grades at Find your Santa Rosa County school grades at Warrington Prep earned 41 percentage points this year but needed 44 to earn a 'C' grade. In 2024, the charter school was 2 points from a 'C,' earning 42 percentage points. Warrington Prep students may be moved to Escambia County Schools if the Charter Schools USA site does not earn a 'C' grade by the end of the 2025-2026 academic year. "With regard to Warrington Prep, FLDOE (Florida Department of Education) will make that determination," ECPS spokesman Cody Strother said on Monday. Warrington Prep opened in 2023 under Charter Schools USA, after operating as Warrington Middle School under Escambia County Schools. The school changed hands at the state's direction following years of poor academic performance. Charter Schools USA had four years to get the school's grade up to a C. If the grade improves from a 'D' any time within that time, Charter Schools USA will earn a 15-year renewal. In December, Florida State Superintendent for Charter Schools USA Eddie Ruiz announced the school would add a ninth-grade class in the 2025-26 school year. However, in April he said the expansion had been delayed. During the 2024-2025 school year, the school had over 570 students – 199 eighth-graders, 227 seventh-graders and 148 sixth-graders. Early this year ECPS Supt. Keith Leonard said the district would have a contingency plan in place for Warrington Prep students should the school lose its charter. 'We have to prepare for success whether Warrington Prep makes the C or higher, but we also have to be prepared if they don't. We have a plan in place, that if needed, we would be able to move forward,' Leonard said. Leonard said ECPS has the 2025-2026 school year to finalize its plan, which includes convening a school attendance zone committee and notifying Warrington Prep families of their options. 'We currently have three middle schools that could accept students from Warrington Prep,' Leonard said, adding ECPS also has seven elementary schools that could add sixth-grade classes as another option. This article originally appeared on Pensacola News Journal: Escambia Santa Rosa County Florida school grades 2024-25
Yahoo
23-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Florida's first 'AI-integrated' middle school opens this fall in Tallahassee
Tallahassee State College is partnering with Charter Schools USA to open Florida's first AI-integrated middle school this August. Charter Schools USA (CSUSA), the second largest charter school operator in the nation, was unanimously approved by the TSC District Board of Trustees June 16 to open the Innovation Academy of Excellence, which will serve grades 6-8 at the Appleyard Drive campus. Students will learn how to use artificial intelligence ethically and efficiently since it will be embedded and integrated throughout the curriculum. "This is an interesting opportunity – and a groundbreaking opportunity," TSC President Jim Murdaugh told the board during its meeting. The college's own charter school, Tallahassee Collegiate Academy opened in 2023 with a Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) and college preparedness focus for grades 9-12. The school earned an A grade from the state education department after its first year. Even though the new middle school is expected to feed into the high school and will offer students high school credits through TCA classes, the two schools will operate as separate entities and are only connected through TSC's governing board and will report to them. The Innovation Academy of Excellence will deliver a STEM focus in a micro school format similar to Tallahassee Collegiate Academy, with only 100-125 students expected to enroll in August. More: Tallahassee Collegiate Academy holds dedication ceremony, celebrates recent successes No principal has been named, and teachers have not yet been determined for the school. It is unclear when CSUSA will appoint a leader and staff. The free public charter middle school will operate at no cost to the college; its operator, CSUSA, will pay administrative fees to TSC. The school is slated to open this August in the current University Partners building. The decision to open the middle school under an external operator aligns with the college's desire to find innovative pathways to education, Calandra Stringer – TSC provost and vice president for academic affairs – told the Tallahassee Democrat. She said most of the students who attend the middle school will hopefully advance to TCA for high school. CSUSA is not new to the Tallahassee area. It operated Renaissance Academy, a public charter school that was located on Mahan Drive before it was abruptly closed in May due to low enrollment and poor academic performance. The building on Mahan Drive is now being leased to an Orlando-based private school company and will open also in August as Tallahassee Preparatory Academy. "When I look at that micro-school concept, which allows students to have that personalized learning experience, that's innovative," Stringer told the Tallahassee Democrat. "They didn't have that at Renaissance Academy. So, their approach is on brand because they're bringing something innovative." More: New private school in Tallahassee will replace Title I charter school Alaijah Brown covers children & families for the Tallahassee Democrat. She can be reached at ABrown1@ Follow her on Twitter/X: @AlaijahBrown3. This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: Tallahassee State College to host middle school focused on AI, STEM
