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Pasco gains in FCAT writing in 2 grades, falls in 1

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By RONNIE BLAIR

rblair@tampatrib.com

Published: May 1, 2009

WESLEY CHAPEL - Pasco County students have improved their writing skills in fourth and eighth grade, but saw a slight dip in 10th grade, according to 2009 FCAT writing results released Thursday by the Florida Department of Education.

The highest possible score on the writing portion of the Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test is 6. The state considers a 3.5 to be the standard for writing proficiency.

In Pasco, 78 percent of fourth-graders, 88 percent of eighth-graders and 73 percent of 10th-graders scored at the proficient level.

That compares with 67 percent of fourth-graders, 86 percent of eighth-graders and 77 percent of 10th-graders a year ago.

Pasco students are lagging slightly behind the statewide averages. Across Florida, 85 percent of fourth-graders, 90 percent of eighth-graders and 77 percent of 10th-graders scored at the proficient level.

Only three grades take the FCAT writing exam. Depending on the grade level, students are randomly assigned one of two styles of writing prompts and asked to write an essay response.

Scores released Thursday included a school-by-school breakdown. Individual student score reports will be available to parents at each school district after May 7, the education department reported.

Reporter Ronnie Blair can be reached at (813) 259-7065. Keyword: FCAT, for a searchable database to find Pasco schools' writing scores.

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