In the Tampa Bay area, all schools maintained or improved their grades from the previous year, reflecting positive trends across the region.

School performance is evaluated based on up to 12 components, including achievement, learning gains, graduation rates, and college/career readiness, with specific thresholds determining letter grades.

Out of nearly 2,000 schools, 55% earned top ratings, and only 14 schools received failing marks, indicating widespread success.

Manatee County achieved its highest district grade ever, with 25 schools earning A's and notable progress in graduation rates, science proficiency, and third-grade reading.

Governor Ron DeSantis credited the state's education reforms, including progress monitoring testing, for recent improvements in student performance, emphasizing the system's role in providing timely feedback to educators and parents.

Next year's grading scale change could impact ratings, with 12 districts currently rated A potentially downgraded to C.

Florida schools are graded on an A to F scale, with elementary schools requiring at least 62% for an A, middle and high schools at 64%, and the district overall at 57-63% for a B; most schools received high grades, with 49% of high schools earning A's.

Florida's grading system requires at least 95% student testing participation, and schools are rated from A to F based on multiple performance factors.

In 2025, only 2% of schools received D grades, and fewer than 1% earned F grades, showing overall improvement in school performance.

The new assessment system introduced in 2023 emphasizes student progress and growth, which has contributed to the positive trend in school ratings.

While most schools performed well, some Republican lawmakers criticized the grading system, calling for reforms to better reflect student achievement.

Gadsden County received the lowest score at 49%, with other counties like Jefferson and Hamilton also scoring below 55%, highlighting disparities across districts.