K-8 Center a "solid A"?

Note: Although we respect and truly appreciate the work our Principal, teachers and school administration do in trying to provide the best possible education, we feel the information presented in this article misguides the community as to the true performance of our school. For more information, please read the article KB K-8 Center - Much room for improvement.

Published in The Islander News. September 2, 2010. kjosephsen@islanderews.com

The Key Biscayne K-8 Center once again earned a "solid A" based on the 2010 FCAT scores, making it one of South Florida's top-performing schools.

"We are extremely pleased with the results of the 2010 FCAT," Principal Silvia Tarafa said. "We are a solid 'A' and our students, led by our teachers, have outper­formed their counterparts throughout the state. We are proud of our students' accomplishments and the hard work and innovative instruction of all of the teachers at the Key Biscayne K-8 Center."

The release of this year's FCAT scores was delayed until the end of July because the company that tabulates the results, NCS Pear­son, experienced a number of dif­ficulties. However, as Tarafa pointed out, once the scores were out, they proved well worth the wait.

Tarafa explained the 2010 FCAT assessed students in grades 3-8 on reading and math, students in grades 5 and 8 on science, and students in grades 4 and 8 on writ­ing. "In all of these areas, Key Biscayne K-8 Center scored way above the state and district aver­ages," she remarked.

Specifically, in 2010 the amount of third graders who scored at above Achievement Level 3 — meaning students suc­cessfully meet state standards — in reading, math and/or science rose from 86% last year to 91%. Meanwhile, 94% of fourth graders scored above level 3 on reading, while an impressive 100% scored over level 3 on writing.

Fifth, seventh and eighth grade students also increased their reading assessment scores, Tarafa said, while the eighth graders posted one of the highest averages in the state on the writing tests.

She added, "Eighth grade students con­tinue to perform well on the very challeng­ing and difficult FCAT science assessment, with 73 percent of the students scoring at Level 3 or above."

What's more, Tarafa noted more students than ever scored at Level 4 or 5, the highest levels, in both reading and math. She said that confirms "that the teaching going on at Key Biscayne K-8 Center is making a dif­ference and driving students to achieve at higher levels."

Overall, the results allowed the local school not only to maintain its "A" ranking, but to once again exceed Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) standards as established by the federal "No Child Left Behind" program.

"Key Biscayne K-8 Center has met AYP each year, thus further making it a high per­forming school that is meeting the needs of the entire student population," Tarafa said. "There are many schools in the County that are 'A" schools, but may not meet the re­quirements for AYP."

Tarafa attributes the good news to everyone who works hard at her school.

"Everyone plays a role in preparing and educating the students at the school, and the school provides a nurturing environment in which students can excel in all areas," she remarked. "We are very proud of the col­lective efforts of the students, teachers, par­ents, staff and community and will continue to enhance our educational program to in­crease student performance and prepare stu­dents for the global society in which they live."

Back to news