Despite 'D' Grade, Principal Says Good Things Are Happening At Greco

Greco Middle School Principal Yinka Alege concedes he was disappointed to learn Friday, July 26 that the middle school had earned a "D" grade for the second year in a row from the Florida Department of Education (Find grades for each Hillsborough County School).

And while he hopes to raise the school's grade in the coming year, the second-year Greco principal said it's also important to note the school's successes over the past year.

Among them, noted Alege, Greco had the second highest percentage of attendance improvement among all elementary, middle and high schools in the district (following Ferrell's All Girl Middle Magnet School by 0.02 percent).

In addition, the school experienced a 48 percent drop in disciplinary incidents resulting in 723 less days of suspension. 

And while it wasn't reflected in the school's overall grade this year, Greco did make inroads into improving student achievement. 

On the reading portion of the FCAT, the school increased the percentage of proficient students by 2 percent. Overall learning gains in reading were up by 5 percent. And learning gains for the lowest 25 percent of students also increased by 2 percent.

On the math portion of the FCAT, Greco saw the percentage of proficient students increase by 4 percent. Overall learning gains in math were also up by 1 percent, although gains among the lowest 25 percent of students dropped by 1 percent. 
For the Algebra End of Course Assessment, Greco's participation rate was the second highest in the district at 98 percent, and its pass rate increased by 28 percent from last year.

"While we lost school grade points because of rule changes for the FCAT writing portion," said Alege, "we still increased the percentage of proficient students (those scoring a 3.5 or higher) by 5 percent.  
And despite a rigorous new FCAT science test, Greco increased its percentage of proficient students by 1 percent.

"Know that if the state used the same rules to grade schools this year as it did last year, our school letter grade would have increased," said Alege. "Having positive numbers in right places (attendance and academics) and negative numbers in the right places (discipline) is a sure sign that our work together is moving in the right direction."

Greco wasn't alone in receiving a "D" grade this year. Other Hillsborough County schools earning "Ds" were Temple Terrace Elementary, Riverhills Elementary and:

• Bailey Elementary
• Bing Elementary
• Broward Elementary
• Bryant Elementary
• Burnett Middle School
• Clair-Mel Elementary
• Cypress Creek Elementary
• Dowdell Middle Magnet School
• Dover Elementary
• Foster Elementary
• Gibsonton Elementary
• Guinta Middle School
• Ippolito Elementary
• James Elementary
• Just Elementary
• Kenly Elementary
• Lockhart Elementary Magnet
• Mango Elementary
• McDonald Elementary
• McLane Middle School
• Memorial Middle School
• Mort Elementary
• Oak Park Elementary
• Palm River Elementary
• Ruskin Elementary
• Seminole Elementary
• Sligh Middle School
• Sulphur Spring Elementary
• Summerfield Elementary
• Thonotosassa Elementary
• Van Buren Middle School
• Young Middle Magnet School
• Wimauma Academy
• Advantage Academy of Hillsborough
• Community Charter School of Excellence
• Community Middle Charter School of Excellence