On July 1, 2026 the Florida Department of Education released the 2025-26 school and district grades. The results showed another year of improvement for the district with more than half of the schools earning an A or B school grade.
Ochwilla Elementary and Robert H. Jenkins, Jr. Elementary improved from a C to a B. Putnam Virtual School improved from a B to an A.
“From PreK through 6th grade, our team embraced a growth mindset, welcomed coaching, utilized outside the box thinking, and most importantly, loved and believed in our students,” stated Beth Leary, principal of Ochwilla Elementary. “Our B is the result of an incredible amount of hard work, dedication, passion and an all-in mindset.”
Principal Paula Adams was thrilled by her school’s jump from a C to a B.
“Robert H. Jenkins, Jr. Elementary is incredibly proud of the hard work, dedication, and perseverance our students, staff, and families demonstrated throughout this school year. Together, we rose to the challenge and earned the first B this school has had since 2012.”
Melrose Elementary and Q.I. Roberts Jr.-Sr. High once again earned an A grade and James A. Long Elementary maintained its B grade.
The district’s two charter schools both maintained their grades with The Children’s Reading Center achieving an A and Putnam Academy of Arts and Sciences earning a B.
The district increased its overall district grade from 55% to 57%, with total points earned rising from 664 to 683. The district maintained a district grade of a C.
Areas of improvement included:
English Language Arts (ELA) Achievement increased from 48% to 50%.
Mathematics Achievement increased from 46% to 47%.
Science Achievement increased from 44% to 45%.
Social Studies Achievement increased from 59% to 63%.
College and Career Acceleration improved significantly from 46% to 66%.
Graduation Rate increased from 91% to 97%.
The largest increase was in the College and Career Acceleration component. This improvement is the result of intentional efforts to better prepare students for college and careers through industry certifications, dual enrollment, and accelerated coursework with Advanced Placement and Cambridge AICE.
According to Superintendent Rick Surrency, “The increase in college and career acceleration and improvements in achievement are a direct result of our investments in career and technical programs and focus on core instruction. Our district continues to move in the right direction.”
District Grade Three-Year Comparison
District Grade Components | 2024 | 2025 | 2026 |
Grade 3 English Language Arts Achievement | 39 | 41 | 41 |
English Language Arts Achievement | 42 | 48 | 50 |
English Language Arts Learning Gains | 51 | 55 | 55 |
English Language Arts Learning Gains of the Lowest 25% | 54 | 54 | 50 |
Mathematics Achievement | 42 | 46 | 47 |
Mathematics Learning Gains | 52 | 53 | 52 |
Mathematics Learning Gains of the Lowest 25% | 56 | 49 | 44 |
Science Achievement | 38 | 44 | 45 |
Social Studies Achievement | 55 | 59 | 63 |
Middle School Acceleration | 68 | 78 | 73 |
Graduation Rate 2024-25 | 89 | 91 | 97 |
College and Career Acceleration 2024-25 | 44 | 46 | 66 |
Total Points Earned | 630 | 664 | 683 |
Percent of Total Possible Points | 53 | 55 | 57 |
This year, the expectations for school grades changed for the district’s secondary schools, and next year, the expectations will increase for all schools. The school grade scale score ranges are adjusted based on State Board of Education Rule 6A-1.09981.
Grading Scales by School Type
Elementary | Middle | High, Combination, and Districts | ||||
Grade | 2025-26 | 2026-27 | 2025-26 | 2026-27 | 2025-26 | 2026-27 |
A | 62% - 100% | 65% - 100% | 64% - 100% | 65% - 100% | 65% - 100% | 70% - 100% |
B | 54% - 61% | 55% - 64% | 57% - 63% | 60% - 64% | 60% - 64% | 65% - 69% |
C | 41% - 53% | 45% - 54% | 44% - 56% | 45% - 59% | 45% - 59% | 50% - 64% |
D | 32% - 40% | 35% - 44% | 34% - 43% | 35% - 44% | 35% - 44% | 40% - 49% |
F | 0% - 31% | 0% - 34% | 0% - 33% | 0% - 34% | 0% - 34% | 0% - 39% |
As the Putnam County School District prepares for the 2026-27 school year, district leaders remain focused on building upon this momentum. While the state's accountability benchmarks will become more rigorous for all schools next year, the district is confident that its ongoing investment in high-quality instruction, career and technical education, and student support systems will continue ‘Shaping the Future’ for every student.