English Language Arts scores increased for nearly all third- through 10th-grade students in Escambia County and Santa Rosa County public schools during the 2025-2026 school year, according to the Florida Department of Education’s release of state test scores.
Escambia County Public Schools saw Math grades rise for third- through eighth-graders. While Santa Rosa County District Schools had increases in Math for third- through fifth-grade, they saw slight dips in sixth- and seventh-graders’ performance from the 2024-2025 school year, the FDOE’s Florida Assessment of Student Thinking or FAST exams scores revealed.
FAST exams replaced the Florida Standards Assessments several years ago. Under the FAST testing system, students are assessed three times a year, with the final round of tests taking place at the end of the year. The goal is to monitor student progress throughout the year, and scores are calculated at the end of the year.
Students in grades three through 10 are evaluated on English Language Arts (ELA) knowledge, with the state splitting their scores up into four groups: grades three through 10, grades three through five, grades six through eight and grades nine through 10. The scores are calculated based on how students perform on their third quarter FAST test and end-of-year assessment.
Here’s a breakdown of the scores from Escambia County Public Schools and Santa Rosa County District Schools.
ECPS English Language Arts Scores
Most ECPS students in grades three through 10 scored the same or higher on the ELA test during the 2025-2026 school year, compared to the previous year. Sixth-graders experienced a slight drop in scores.
SRCDS English Language Arts Scores
Most Santa Rosa County students in grades three through 10 increased their ELA pass rates for the 2025-2026 school year. However, the district’s fourth grade and sixth grade pass rates remained the same as the year before.
ECPS Mathematics
Math scores improved for all ECPS third- through sixth-grades this year.
SRCPS Mathematics
The Math pass rates for third- through fifth-graders increased this year in Santa Rosa County schools. However, the sixth- and seventh-grade pass rates took a slight dip. Districtwide, students still outperformed the state average of 60%.
How do Escambia and Santa Rosa students compare to state?
Santa Rosa County students scored higher in English Language Arts compared to the state. And despite some slight declines in Math, students also outscored their counterparts statewide.
In Escambia County schools, students made some significant gains, but the district’s overall scores were below statewide scores in English Language Arts and Math.
State of Florida Pass Rates
The 2025-2026 statewide pass rates for English Language Arts are as follows:
The 2025-2026 statewide pass rates for Math:
Other state tests include:
B.E.S.T. End of Course Assessments for Mathematics
Algebra 1
Geometry
Social Studies and Science End of Course Assessments
Social Studies
U.S. History
Science
Biology
Mary Lett is the Youth Development Reporter for the Pensacola News Journal. She can be reached at mmabins@gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on Pensacola News Journal: FAST scores improved in Escambia, Santa Rosa. How did your school do?
Reporting by Mary Lett, Pensacola News Journal / Pensacola News Journal
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By Mary Lett, Pensacola News Journal | USA TODAY Network
