James S. Hunt Elementary earns first A school grade in 14 years after long improvement journey
Coral Springs, Florida – After more than a decade of steady work, setbacks, and gradual gains, James S. Hunt Elementary School has reached a milestone that staff, students, and families had been chasing for years. The school has officially earned an “A” grade from the Florida Department of Education, its first top rating since 2012.
The achievement represents a 14-year journey of continuous improvement, making Hunt Elementary the first school in Coral Springs to climb back to an “A” after such a long stretch of sustained effort, according to school officials. For many inside the campus, the result is being described less as a surprise and more as the outcome of years of building step by step toward a shared goal.
Principal Carla Hart said the success belongs to the entire school community and reflects a long-term commitment to raising expectations and strengthening instruction across classrooms. In a statement marking the achievement, she emphasized the collective effort behind the milestone.
“This accomplishment belongs to our entire Hunt family,” Hart said. “Our students worked incredibly hard, our teachers never stopped believing in what was possible, and our families and community stood beside us every step of the way. Together, we proved that excellence is achieved through commitment, collaboration, and heart.”
Under Hart’s leadership, the school focused on reshaping classroom practices and strengthening how teachers deliver instruction. That included expanded professional development, more structured academic support, and a stronger emphasis on using data to guide teaching strategies. The goal, officials said, was to ensure that instruction was both consistent and responsive to student needs.
Literacy and mathematics were key priorities throughout the improvement process. Teachers worked to refine lesson planning and identify learning gaps earlier, while students received targeted support aimed at improving academic performance across grade levels. Over time, those efforts translated into measurable gains that contributed to the school’s final grade.
Beyond core academics, Hunt Elementary also expanded enrichment opportunities and strengthened programs designed to support student growth outside the classroom. Mentoring initiatives, extracurricular activities, and additional student services played a role in building a more balanced learning environment.
School leaders also pointed to increased family engagement as an important factor in the school’s progress. Parents and guardians were encouraged to take a more active role in the learning process, creating a stronger connection between home and school.
The achievement comes as Broward County Public Schools maintains its districtwide “A” rating, with several schools showing steady improvement in recent years. Within that broader context, Hunt Elementary’s rise stands out as a long-term transformation built over more than a decade.
As the school community celebrates, the sense of accomplishment is visible across campus. Banners and handwritten messages now hang in hallways reading, “14 years in the making… Hunt is an A!” marking the end of a long journey and the beginning of a new chapter for the school.
