07-07-2025
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.'
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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
