The Leon County School Board gathered on July 14, 2026, to celebrate what officials described as a historic academic milestone. According to data released by the Florida Department of Education, the district has reached its highest performance level in ten years and is currently just 0.25 points away from an overall “A” grade.
During a comprehensive presentation, David Solz, Director of School Improvement and Accountability, reported that Leon County saw proficiency increases across every core subject area. English Language Arts (ELA) proficiency rose by 4% district-wide, while math scores saw a significant 5-point gain in grades 3-5. Science scores were particularly strong, increasing by 5 points across all levels and placing the district 7 points above the state average in Biology.
“I have never been more proud of our school district,” said Superintendent Rocky Hanna, noting the achievements of staff and students alike. “We’re point twenty-five. Point 25 away from an A”.
The individual school results were equally striking, with 85% of schools (33 out of 39) either maintaining or improving their letter grade. The district now boasts 28 schools rated “A” or “B,” the highest number since 2012. Notable highlights included:
- Bond Elementary earned the first “A” in the school’s history, with historic growth for its bottom 25% of students (88% in reading and 90% in math).
- Fairview Middle School jumped from a “C” to an “A”.
- Cobb Middle School and Sealy Elementary both secured “A” ratings.
- Griffin and Oak Ridge successfully exited “Differentiated Accountability” status.
Board members attributed the success to “intentional investments,” particularly in early learning and the introduction of the UFLI reading program. Board Member Jones remarked, “The proof has been in the pudding,” while highlighting the “full evolution” of the district’s budget investments in student preparation.
Comparing Leon County to similarly sized districts, Board Member Wood highlighted that Leon’s 72% performance metric significantly outpaced Alachua (59%), Bay (68%), and Escambia (63%). “That’s the kind of comparison we need to be making right there,” Wood said.
Board Member Smith added that the data serves as a powerful marketing tool for public education. “No matter what area of town you live in… you’re going to be successful in Leon County Schools,” Smith noted. Superintendent Hannah concluded that the district would “scream it from the mountain tops” to ensure the community recognizes these historic gains .
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