Students in the Tallahassee area are largely improving in math and reading, according to newly released results from Florida’s standardized testing system.
The Florida Department of Education released results from the Florida Assessment of Student Thinking (FAST) on June 26, offering an early snapshot of how many students are performing below, at or above grade level. The data also provides a preview of school grades expected later this summer, which are heavily influenced by FAST scores.
“All in all, I am extremely pleased with our students’ performance and test results on the state assessments this past spring. These results reflect the dedication and hard work of our outstanding teachers and support staff,” LCS Superintendent Rocky Hanna.
He added: “Our students, parents, and the community at large should be proud of how well our students performed and the progress we made throughout the past school year. While there is still more work to be done, we are certainly headed in the right direction.”
The Tallahassee Democrat analyzed scores for each grade and campus between the Leon County School District, Florida State University Schools, Florida A&M University Developmental Research Schools and Tallahassee State College Collegiate Academy.
“We’re seeing a lot of growth, and I think it speaks to us being very intentional about meeting every student every day,” FSUS Director Christopher Small said. “We’ve been going above and beyond with our lab school mission of embedded research that’s been a huge piece for us. I think we’re seeing those results and those outcomes with our students because our teachers are being more reflective of their practices.”
How were reading scores?
Reading scores for students in grades 3–10 improved compared with 2025 across all major school systems.
Leon County Schools saw a 4-point increase, rising from 55% to 59% of students performing at or above grade level. FAMU DRS posted one of the largest gains, climbing from 45% to 57%. FSUS inched up from 82% to 84%, while TCA improved from 67% to 69%.
Growth during the school year was even more pronounced.
In Leon County Schools, reading proficiency jumped from 36% at the start of the year to 59% on the final assessment. FAMU DRS showed similar progress, increasing from 32% on the first progress monitoring test (PM1) to 57% on the second (PM2).
How were math scores?
Math scores for students in grades 3–8 showed notable gains, particularly in LCS and at FAMU DRS
Leon County Schools improved from 57% in 2025 to 61% of students performing at or above grade level, while FAMU DRS increased from 50% to 58%.
FSUS held steady year over year at 87%, but showed significant growth during the school year, with proficiency rising from 34% on early assessments to 87% on the final test.
LCS posted one of the largest gains over the course of the year, with math proficiency climbing from 15% at the start to 61% by the final assessment.
Which schools struggled in the FAST exams?
Ghazvini Learning Center, the district’s alternative school serving students in grades 6–12, posted the lowest scores in the city.
None of the school’s 15 ninth graders are reading at grade level. Among eighth graders, just 19% are reading at or above grade level, while only 8% of seventh graders are meeting proficiency.
Hanna said the district is working to improve outcomes for those students.
“We’re trying to work with them to get them on track,” Hanna said, noting the results do not reflect the full scope of performance across the district.
Elsewhere, Nims Middle School also struggled, with only 10% of sixth graders meeting grade-level standards in math.
Which schools saw the greatest achievements?
FSUS seventh graders stood out, with 89% performing at or above grade level in reading and 95% in math.
At the elementary level, Hawks Rise fourth graders posted the highest math scores, with 88% meeting or exceeding grade-level standards.
In reading, fifth graders at both Hawks Rise and Gilchrist elementary schools ranked among the top performers, each with 83% at or above grade level.
How did your school do?
Did your school make the grade in the new Florida Assessment of Student Thinking and statewide final exams? Compare a district’s scores on a variety of subjects with other districts around Florida and the state average. Click on the individual district to see scores for each school. Click on https://data.tallahassee.com/school/fast/ to begin exploring.
Alaijah Cross covers children & families for the Tallahassee Democrat. She can be reached at abrown@tallahassee.com.
This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: FAST scores show reading, math gains in Leon. How did your school do?
Reporting by Alaijah Cross, Tallahassee Democrat / Tallahassee Democrat
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Alaijah Cross, Tallahassee Democrat | USA TODAY Network
