2021 Graduation Rate Highest Ever for Martin County |
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The Martin County School District's 2021 graduation rate was its highest ever, according to data released on January 4, 2022, by the Florida Department of Education. MCSD earned a graduation rate of 94.1%, a 3.9 percentage point increase over its graduation rate of 90.2% in 2020. The graduation rate for the three traditional, District-operated high schools increased to 97.1% in 2021, an increase of 1.8 percentage points over last year's rate and 7 percentage points above the state's overall graduation rate of 90.1%.
Moreover, the graduation rate for all demographic groups of students increased significantly in 2021. The graduation rate for students who qualify for Exceptional Student Education (ESE) services increased from 78.5% to 86.3%; English Language Learners (ELLs) improved from 76.7% to 86.5%; Black students improved from 75% to 86.5%; Hispanic students improved from 84% to 90.6%; White students improved from 94.2% to 96.5%, and the rate for students who qualify for free or reduced-price meals increased from 84.7% to 90.4%.
Graduation rates are based on students who finish high school "on time," within four years of entering ninth grade. In order to count as graduates, students must obtain a standard high school diploma (18 or 24 credits) or be enrolled in an Exceptional Student Education (ESE) program and eligible for graduation but electing to defer receipt of their diploma to return and attend school under FAPE (Free and Appropriate Public Education).
“We remain committed to providing each of our students with the effective instruction and learning opportunities they need to achieve the goal of high school graduation," said Superintendent John D. Millay. "While we still have work to do to ensure all of our students become graduates, these remarkable results reinforce my confidence that we are headed in the right direction. I am extremely proud of our students, faculty, staff and families for their hard work and commitment to achieving success.”
2021 graduation rates for Martin County schools are as follows:
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Clark Advanced Learning Center - 98.9%
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Jensen Beach High School - 98.0%
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Martin County High School - 97.2%
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South Fork High School - 96.2%
To learn more about graduation rates, please click here to visit the Florida Department of Education's website.
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VPK Enrollment for 2022-2023 School Year to Begin in February |
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The Martin County School District's Voluntary Pre-Kindergarten Program (VPK) will begin accepting applications for the 2022-2023 school year on February 7, 2022. The program is available at select District-operated schools with limited enrollment.
VPK is an early learning program that provides developmentally appropriate instruction and activities to prepare four-year-olds for kindergarten and beyond by building a solid foundation for school success. To be eligible, children must be four years of age on or before September 1 of the school year in which they attend VPK and must reside within an area served by a participating school.
Parents will be able to apply for one of MCSD's 270 VPK seats during open enrollment. Open enrollment will take place in two phases beginning on February 7, 2022, at 8:00 a.m. Families will complete open enrollment online.
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Survivor of the Holocaust to Share Story WIth Community in Honor of Holocaust Remembrance Day |
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In honor of Holocaust Remembrance Day, Palm City resident and Holocaust survivor Louis Schneider will share his powerful story of perseverance and hope with the Martin County community. Rabbi Matthew Durbin of Temple Beit HaYam will provide opening remarks for this experience, which will take place one night only and is sure to be unforgettable for all in attendance.
Mr. Schneider was born in Belgium in 1934. Although many Holocaust survivors share their heartbreaking stories of concentration camps and life in Eastern Europe, Mr. Schneider chooses to share his harrowing experience as a young child in a family desperately trying to stay one step ahead of the Nazi regime. After his father was shipped to Auschwitz Concentration Camp, he—along with his mother and sister—tried to evade the enemy throughout Belgium, Southern France and Northern Italy.
After the war and miraculously being reunited with his father, the Schneider family immigrated to the United States in 1948. They became naturalized citizens in 1954 and resided in New York. Mr. Schneider studied Biochemistry and Microbiology as an undergraduate and graduate student, performing work with the U.S. Military. He then earned his Juris Doctor and practiced international trade law, representing many German companies. Besides English, Mr. Schneider is fluent in French, Italian and German.
After retiring and relocating to Florida in 2000, Mr. Schneider worked with the Holocaust Documentation Center in Miami and the Holocaust Museum in Washington, D.C. His goal is to continue to tell his story as long as he is able.
Mr. Schneider will speak at Jensen Beach High School at 6:00 p.m. on January 27, 2022. While there is no charge to attend, those interested in attending must RSVP to reserve seats. Doors will open at 5:30 p.m.
To learn more about Mr. Schneider and what to expect during his presentation, please click here to watch a video segment produced by WPTV in December 2021.
Jensen Beach High School is located at 2875 NW Goldenrod Road, Jensen Beach, FL 34957.
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Eighth Graders Set to Explore Their Futures During 2022 CTE Showcase |
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The Martin County School District is taking its annual Career & Technical Education (CTE) Showcase on the road this year, allowing eighth-grade students the opportunity to explore future career opportunities from the comfort of their middle school campuses.
Made possible with the generous support of the Martin County Council of Chambers of Commerce, these events will allow students to network with professionals about the career opportunities offered in local businesses while also learning more about the many CTE programs offered in our high schools. MCSD's high school CTE programs hold the added distinction of being Career and Professional Education (CAPE) academies, which incorporate industry certifications and real-life, hands-on experiences. Many of these academies offer students honors-level course credit as well as articulated college credit at Indian River State College, Keiser University and other state colleges/universities and technical centers.
The 2022 CTE "Explore My Future" Showcase will be held according to the following schedule:
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Hidden Oaks Middle School - January 13, 2022
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Murray Middle School - January 20, 2022
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Indiantown Middle School - January 27, 2022
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Stuart Middle School - February 3, 2022
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Dr. David L. Anderson Middle School - February 17, 2022
To learn more about the numerous CTE programs offered throughout the District, please click here.
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High Schools Announce 2022 Pathfinder Scholarship Nominees |
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Fifty outstanding high school seniors from the Martin County School District have been nominated for the 2022 Pathfinder Awards. The Palm Beach Post's Pathfinder Awards are presented each year to 54 of the best and brightest seniors in Martin and Palm Beach counties who have demonstrated outstanding achievement in academic, vocational and athletic categories.
One of the largest and most comprehensive high school scholarship programs in the state, the Pathfinder Awards program grants nominees the honor of competing against their peers for more than $170,000 in college scholarships.
Please click here to view this year's list of nominees. Winners will be announced during the annual Pathfinder Awards celebration in May 2022.
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iReady Student Score Reports Available in FOCUS |
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Parents of elementary students - your child recently participated in an iReady assessment focused on math, and their score report is now available in the FOCUS Parent Portal. iReady student score reports provide families with an overview of how their child is performing.
To learn how to access your child's score report in FOCUS, please click here.
To learn more about the iReady platform and how to understand your child's score report, please click here.
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Health & Wellness Resources |
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Bookmark our symptom screening tools (English and Español). Monitoring your child's health daily is key to preventing the spread of illness. To help protect their health and the health of those around them, keep your child home from school and other activities when they are ill.
Our screening tools will help you quickly assess your child for a wide variety of symptoms, advising what action is recommended and providing listings for local healthcare providers.
Team MCSD - please click here to access our employee symptom screener. You will be able to find local care providers who participate in our Florida Blue network and seek care as necessary.
Many local physicians and pharmacies are offering COVID-19 immunizations to interested, eligible individuals. Please click here to locate a provider near you. The CDC and DOH Martin advise that the COVID-19 vaccine is the best, long-term way to fight the virus.
COVID-19 testing is available throughout our community. Click here to view upcoming opportunities for free PCR testing through the Florida Department of Health in Martin County (DOH Martin). Click here to view testing opportunities offered by local pharmacies and physicians.
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There will be no school for students on Friday, January 14, as this is a teacher work day. Schools and District offices will be closed Monday, January 17, in observance of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day. Classes will resume on January 18.
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The Martin County School Board will hold its monthly Regular meeting at 4:00 p.m. on Tuesday, January 18. Please click here to view the agenda for the meeting. Please click here to access the livestream.
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Parents/caregivers of children eligible for Exceptional Student Education (ESE) services are invited to participate in this month's Parent Workshop titled "Coping with COVID-19 and Disruption to Schooling." The session will be held Thursday, January 20, at 6:00 p.m. MCSD school psychologists will present the session, which is designed to offer support for students and families, including how to address anxiety, depression, school avoidance, inattentiveness and other concerns. RSVP to ESE Coordinator Jeff Bolbach at bolbacj@martinschools.org. Access the session here.
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Around the District Photo Gallery |
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Please join us in wishing a very happy workaversary to Mr. Fred Walton, one of our outstanding school bus mechanics! Mr. Walton is a 34-year veteran of the Martin County School District. He is the definition of a dedicated employee as he is committed to ensuring our buses are able to safely transport students to and from school each day. Mr. Walton never hesitates to pitch in wherever needed, including as a bus driver from time to time! We appreciate Mr. Walton and all of our dedicated Transportation employees for their commitment to our students and schools.
Interested in joining our world-class team as a bus operator, assistant or mechanic? Explore career opportunities by visiting bit.ly/MCSDCareers call (772) 219-1200 ext. 30100 for more information.
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Future South Fork High School Bulldogs and their families enjoyed a great International Baccalaureate (I.B.) Information Night prior to Winter Break. Wondering if the I.B. program might be right for your child? Click here to learn more!
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Fifth-graders in Ms. McConnell's class at Jensen Beach Elementary School have been working to investigate the mass of various items using balancing scales to deepen their understanding of matter. Great work, Viking scientists!
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Students in Ms. Love's class at Warfield Elementary School relocated a beautiful katydid from a water fountain to a tree this week. Students are taught to respect and take care of wildlife. Encounters with nature and our unique ecosystem happen here in your Martin County public schools!
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Stuart Middle School's new Robotics class is off to a great start! This week, students worked on building hopper robots using Lego kits. The next step? Getting their robots ready to race!
To learn more about the new Robotics programs that are being offered in our schools, please click here.
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Second-graders at J.D. Parker Elementary School enjoyed playing the djembe drums as they practiced new rhythms and musical symbols they've been learning about this week! Keep rocking, Rockets! |
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Palm City Elementary School was proud to celebrate its School Resource Officer, Martin County Sheriff's Office Deputy Dave Wilson, in honor of National Law Enforcement Appreciation Day! Students and staff paid tribute by dressing up like Deputy Wilson.
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We are #ALLINMartinđź‘Š and ready to help ALL students achieve their #MCSDPotential! |
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