BREVARD COUNTY, Florida – The Florida Department of Education released the 2017 third grade Florida Standards Assessment reading scores.

Overall, the portion of Brevard third-graders who scored a 3 or better on the Florida Standards Assessment language-arts exam improved from 60 percent in 2016 to 65 percent in 2017 which beats the state average of 58 percent and ranked Brevard No. 2 in among Florida’s 17 large school districts.

Superintendent Desmond Blackburn credited Brevard Public School teachers and his own administration for the above-average test results, but left out students and parents.

“I regularly see great instruction and sound leadership in our schools, so beating the state average comes as no surprise,” Blackburn said.  “Our teachers and students mean so much more to us than their test scores, but I’m proud of this growth.  I’m encouraged by what this accomplishment will do to our momentum as a district.”

The third-grade FSA is important in Florida because it helps determine whether students may advance to fourth grade.

“This year, as part of our strategic plan, we rejuvenated our focus on early literacy,” Blackburn said.

The top-scoring school among Brevard County Public Schools was Freedom 7 Elementary of International Studies in Cocoa Beach, Florida with a median score of 327 and 98% of its third graders scoring at level 3 or higher.

Four Brevard County schools had 0% of their third graders scoring a level 1. Those schools were West Melbourne Elementary School for Science, Theodore Roosevelt Elementary, Robert Louis Stevenson Elementary School,  and Freedom 7 Elementary of International Studies.

Brevard County Public Schools 3rd Grade FSA Reading Test Results By School: