GILCHRIST COUNTY, Fl. — As the Florida Department of Education released the latest standardized test results this week, school officials from across North Central Florida are reviewing data, addressing areas for improvement, and celebrating pockets of academic achievement — particularly in Gilchrist County, which continues to stand out in English Language Arts (ELA) scores.

Among the eight counties in the region — excluding P.K. Yonge Developmental Research School, which consistently performs above the regional average — Gilchrist County leads the pack with 62% of students scoring a Level 3 or higher on the state’s standardized English assessment. In contrast, Marion County ranked the lowest, despite showing improvement — with 48% of students meeting or exceeding grade-level expectations, up three percentage points from the previous year.

Gilchrist’s Secret? Dedication and Personal Commitment

Speaking with WCJB, Christie McElroy, Assistant Superintendent of Gilchrist County Schools, praised the selflessness and hard work of educators for the county’s strong showing.

“I have a teacher in Bell [Elementary] that willingly gave up planning periods and lunch every day to have students come back to her math class and make sure they got it,” McElroy shared. “That level of commitment makes all the difference.”

According to McElroy, Gilchrist's focus on small class sizes, intensive teacher training, and community involvement continues to support its success, especially in rural areas that often lack the resources of larger school districts.

“We’re a small district, but we make it personal,” she said. “Every teacher knows every student, and that culture creates trust and accountability.”

Marion County Strives for Equity from the Start

While Marion County’s performance trails its regional counterparts, Deputy Superintendent Ben Whitehouse said the district is taking a proactive approach to closing academic gaps, particularly in the early grades.

“Parent involvement plays a role, access to early education plays a role,” said Whitehouse. “A big push for us has been to provide access to VPK [Voluntary Pre-Kindergarten] at our elementary schools so we can get more students into quality pre-kindergarten programs.”

Whitehouse emphasized the varying levels of preparedness seen in students entering kindergarten as a significant challenge. “We have students who come in that can already read and write, and others who don’t even know their letters or colors,” he explained. “That discrepancy widens quickly if we don’t intervene early.”

To address this, Marion County has ramped up its early literacy initiatives and invested in professional development for primary grade teachers. The district is also expanding after-school tutoring and summer reading programs to reinforce learning throughout the year.

Statewide Context and Community Response

State education officials recently released data showing that approximately 54% of students statewide scored a Level 3 or higher in ELA, placing Gilchrist County well above the average and Marion County slightly below.

The results reignited conversations across school boards and parent groups about how districts can better serve students in rural and high-needs communities.

“It’s not just about teaching to the test,” said Michelle Grant, a parent advocate in Marion County. “It’s about creating safe, engaging classrooms where kids feel seen and supported. The test scores are a symptom, not the root.”

Educators in both counties agree that assessment data, while useful, should not be the sole measure of a student’s growth.

“There’s more to education than a number on a paper,” said McElroy. “But if we’re going to measure it, we’re going to make sure we’re improving it.”

Looking Ahead

Both school districts are entering the 2025–2026 academic year with renewed focus on early intervention, family engagement, and teacher support.

In Gilchrist, district leaders plan to scale successful strategies from schools like Bell Elementary to other campuses and continue investing in personalized learning.

Meanwhile, Marion County has announced plans to pilot a new reading curriculum in select elementary schools and will host parent literacy workshops throughout the fall.

“Test scores are a snapshot,” Whitehouse said. “They’re not the whole story, but they help guide our mission: every child reading, every child thriving.”

UPCOMING SCHOOL BOARD MEETINGS:

Gilchrist County School Board: July 9 at 6:00 p.m. – Trenton Administrative Office
Marion County School Board: July 16 at 5:30 p.m. – Marion County School Board Office

Parents and community members are encouraged to attend and voice their thoughts as the districts work to build on recent progress and address areas of need.

Marion and Gilchrist County School Officials Respond to Statewide Test Scores, Highlighting Gaps and Gains in Education

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