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