Florida Schools Are on the Up—Here’s What’s Behind the Surge

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis announced a statewide uptick in K-12 school grades for the 2024–25 academic year, continuing a positive trend from the previous year. According to data released July 7 in Jacksonville, 71% of all graded schools—2,461 in total—received an “A” or “B,” up from 64% in 2024. Charter schools fared even better, with 77% earning top marks.

The data reflects gains across all school types. In 2025, 44% of all schools received an “A” grade, a six-point jump from the year prior. A total of 1,908 schools either improved their grade or maintained an “A,” and the number of underperforming schools declined significantly—schools receiving a “D” or “F” dropped from 117 in 2024 to 71 in 2025.

“These school grades are another example of how our approach is working,” said incoming Education Commissioner Anastasios Kamoutsas, crediting Florida’s progress monitoring system, which replaced traditional standardized testing, as a key driver of improvement.

Florida’s progress monitoring system—adopted statewide under DeSantis—was designed to provide real-time performance insights throughout the academic year. Supporters of the shift say the new approach allows for earlier intervention and more personalized support for students, parents, and educators.

Breakdowns by school level show particularly sharp gains: elementary schools earning an “A” rose by four percentage points, middle schools by nine points, and high schools by ten. District-level results also improved, with 28 school districts earning an “A” and 31 receiving a “B.” Notably, no districts received a “D” or “F.”

Florida charter schools, which often operate with more flexibility than traditional public schools, saw 68% either raise their grade or maintain an “A.” The results add fuel to ongoing debates about school choice and the role of charters in public education reform.

While Republican leaders have framed the results as a validation of Florida’s education strategy, reactions from Democratic lawmakers have been more measured. Several Democrats acknowledged the improvements but emphasized the need for deeper analysis of how policies are affecting students across different demographics and income levels.

Some have raised concerns about the long-term impact of DeSantis-backed education reforms, including curriculum changes and teacher workforce challenges. Nonetheless, many have expressed cautious optimism about the school grade improvements, particularly in historically underperforming districts.

The DeSantis administration continues to position Florida as a national model for education reform, touting progress monitoring, school choice expansion, and a focus on parental involvement as key factors in the state’s upward trajectory.

Complete district and school-level performance data for the 2024–25 school year is available via the Florida Department of Education.