| The Council of the Great City Schools (CGCS) | | | | results also show significant improvement in |
| has recognized Florida's Orange County | | | | Orange County Schools. Results of the Florida |
| Schools for significant improvement in | | | | Comprehensive Assessment Test (FCAT) for |
| raising student test scores in math and | | | | writing show improvement in every grade level |
| reading. The CGCS is the only national | | | | to which it was administered. Fourth grade |
| organization dedicated to the advancement of | | | | scores improved by 6%, 8th grade scores by |
| large, urban public schools. It comprises 66 | | | | 5%, and 10th grade scores by 4%. These |
| separate districts. Orange County Schools | | | | results put Orange County Schools above 5 of |
| were one of only 9 big school districts to | | | | its 6 neighboring counties. Only Broward |
| surpass state averages in math, and one of | | | | County Schools outpaced Orange County Schools |
| ten to do so in reading. Orange County | | | | by 1%. The Orange County School that showed |
| Schools view this as evidence of progress in | | | | the greatest improvement was Ivey Lane |
| closing the wide achievement gap experienced | | | | Elementary, which showed a 33% rise in test |
| by minorities around the country. With | | | | results. Orange County Schools employ a |
| 177,000 students in about 170 schools, Orange | | | | number of different methods to help improve |
| County Schools operate the 11th largest | | | | academic success and close the achievement |
| public school in the nation. Part of the | | | | gap. Among the most notable are the different |
| challenge for Orange County Schools is to | | | | school choice options. Charter schools, |
| address the issues of diversity that often | | | | magnet schools, and contract schools are all |
| result with minority students lagging behind. | | | | offered. There are also opportunity |
| Students attending Orange County Schools come | | | | scholarships available to allow children in a |
| from 179 different countries and speak 137 | | | | failing school to attend a more successful |
| different languages and dialects. One way | | | | private or public school. With its large |
| Orange County Schools are trying to address | | | | minority population, Orange County Schools |
| issues of language diversity is by | | | | continues to seek innovative ways to provide |
| encouraging all students in foreign language | | | | students with practical opportunities for |
| fluency. Magnet programs in immersion and | | | | success. As with any large, urban district |
| dual language are offered starting at the | | | | Orange County Schools have areas in need of |
| elementary school level in French, English, | | | | improvement. But the numbers indicate that |
| Spanish and Vietnamese. Immigration issues | | | | they are on the right path. |
| and education are a hot topic nationwide. Yet | | | | |
| Orange County Schools remain among a minority | | | | Patricia Hawke is a staff writer for Schools |
| of public schools to offer immersion programs | | | | K-12, providing free, in-depth reports on all |
| at the elementary level. Statewide test | | | | U.S. public and private K-12 schools. |