Pinellas Schools Rank 49th in State

ST. PETERSBURG – Florida Gov. Rick Scott and state education officials released school district rankings Monday. Pinellas County schools received a "B" grade and ranked 49 out of 67.

Nearby School District Rankings:

• Hillsborough: 38th
• Pasco: 34th
• Manatee: 47th
• Sarasota: 4th

The top-ranked school district was St. John's County, in northeast Florida. The lowest-ranked district was Madison County, in north central Florida. 

Some top schools officials across the state and in Pinellas have questioned whether the rankings adequately reflect and measure student success. 

In the Tampa Bay Times, Pinellas County Superintendent John Stewart said:

"We appreciate the emphasis the governor is placing on the health of our public schools because quality of education is vital to all Florida residents. However, one measurement does not provide a comprehensive grading picture for a school system, much less an individual student. 

"I would compare the dynamic of this particular ranking to what happens when 5,000 people run a marathon. There can only be one ‘winner’ in the sense that only one person literally comes in first. Does that mean that the other 4,999 people who run the race are losers? Certainly not."

Earlier this year, for Pinellas County. The district saw marginal improvements, with no huge positive or negative movements.