Governor Ron DeSantis highlights statewide academic gains as Florida schools show strong improvement in 2025 grades
Jacksonville, Florida – Florida’s K-12 schools are showing impressive improvement, according to data released Monday by Governor Ron DeSantis. The announcement, focused on school grades for the 2024–25 academic year, revealed encouraging results across all types of schools, continuing a positive trend from the previous year. From traditional public schools to charter campuses, a majority are now rated among the top performers in the state.
According to the Florida Department of Education, 71% of all graded schools—2,461 in total—earned an A or B rating in 2025. That’s a noticeable jump from 2024, when just 64% (or 2,215 schools) reached the same marks. Among those, 44% of schools earned an A this year, compared to 38% in 2024. In addition, 1,908 schools either improved their rating or held onto their A grade from the previous year.
Governor DeSantis credited these achievements to the state’s continued use of progress monitoring and its flexible education policies. “Florida’s use of statewide progress monitoring is yet another example of how Florida leads on education,” DeSantis said. “Providing more opportunities for parents and teachers to intervene in a child’s performance in school leads to better outcomes and a higher quality education.”
This form of assessment allows schools to regularly check student performance throughout the year, instead of relying on a single end-of-year test. Officials say this system gives teachers and families more time to respond to academic issues and helps students stay on track.
The improvement in grades has been felt at every level of schooling. The number of elementary schools receiving an A jumped by 4 percentage points. Middle schools improved even more—up 9 percentage points—while high schools saw the biggest leap, with a 10-point increase in A grades.
Charter schools, which have grown significantly in Florida, also posted strong results. Of the 624 charter schools that received a grade, 77% earned an A or B. Additionally, 68% either improved their score or maintained an A from the previous year. These results support ongoing efforts to expand school choice across the state.
Incoming Education Commissioner Anastasios Kamoutsas said the new results prove the state’s approach is working. “Florida has laid the blueprint for educational success in America,” Kamoutsas said. “These school grades are another example of how our approach is working.”
The number of poorly performing schools also saw a sharp decline. In 2024, 117 schools earned either a D or F. That number dropped to just 71 in 2025, showing that more schools are lifting their standards and offering stronger academic programs.
District-level progress was equally noteworthy. Out of Florida’s 67 school districts, 28 earned an A rating, while 31 received a B. Only eight districts were given a C. Importantly, no districts in the state received a D or F rating for the year.
Commissioner of Education Manny Diaz, Jr. emphasized the importance of strong leadership and innovation in reaching these milestones. “This year’s school grades demonstrate that Florida’s focus on the future of education has paid off,” he said. “Under Governor DeSantis’ leadership, Florida has implemented innovative strategies like progress monitoring and provided students with the choices they need to succeed. The 2025 school grades are a reflection of the nation-leading education reforms that Florida has implemented.”
These reforms—focused on accountability, school choice, and flexible learning—have become a model for other states. As more school systems look for ways to improve student achievement, Florida’s success in 2025 could draw national attention.
With the release of the school grades, education officials, parents, and community leaders have a lot to reflect on—and even more to build upon. The data suggests that Florida’s efforts to personalize learning, hold schools accountable, and give families options are creating real academic gains. And with no D or F-rated districts in the entire state, the path forward looks promising.
