Academically High-Performing School Districts
Section 1003.621, F.S., Academically high-performing school districts, was established in 2007.
Academically high-performing school districts are designated each year by the State Board of Education based on their district grade, school grades, class size compliance and financial audit reports. The most recent designation was in October 2022 and is based on:
- 2021-22 school and district grades
- 2020-21 financial audit reports
- 2021-22 class size compliance
Fourteen districts are currently designated:
- Clay
- Collier
- Gilchrist
- Lafayette
- Liberty
- Miami-Dade
- Nassau
- Okaloosa
- Palm Beach
- St. Johns
- Sarasota
- Santa Rosa
- Seminole
- Walton
In 2021, the law was amended to allow each academically high-performing school district to provide up to two days of virtual instruction as part of the required 180 actual teaching days or the equivalent on an hourly basis each school year, as specified by rules of the State Board of Education. Virtual instruction must be conducted in accordance with the plan approved by the department, be teacher-developed, and be aligned with the standards for enrolled courses. The day(s) must be indicated on the calendar approved by the school board. The district shall submit a plan for each day of virtual instruction to the department for approval, in a format prescribed by the department, with assurances of alignment to statewide student standards, before the start of each school year.
Rule 6A-1.0450, F.A.C., was adopted by the State Board of Education on March 30, 2022, and became effective May 3, 2022. The rule includes Form AHPSD-1 (PDF), to be completed by interested school districts and submitted to FDOE for approval. The due date for the 2024-25 school year is June 17, 2024. Submit form to Holly.Edenfield@fldoe.org.