District Newsroom

Volusia County Schools earns back-to-back “A” district grade

DELAND—The Florida Department of Education has released the 2025-2026 district and school grades. Volusia County Schools has earned its second consecutive “A” district grade.

VCS has demonstrated consistent growth over the past five years, rising 9 percentage points from 57 in 2022 to 66 percentage points and 797 total points, the highest in district history.

“Earning an “A” rating for the second year in a row is a proud, historic moment for Volusia County. It’s the first time in district history we've earned back-to-back “A” ratings, and it truly took a village,” Superintendent Dr. Carmen J. Balgobin said. “These results reflect the sustained, intentional work happening in our classrooms every day: our students rising to the challenge; our teachers and school leaders staying aligned to strong instruction and using data to meet every student where they are; our support staff keeping our schools safe and running smoothly; our families and community partners reinforcing that work at home; and our School Board standing behind us every step of the way. We’re proud of this progress and committed to continuing to close achievement gaps, accelerating learning for every student, and preparing every graduate for success beyond the classroom. When a community commits to its schools the way Volusia has, this is what happens.”

- Superintendent Dr. Carmen J. Balgobin

Key highlights from the 2025-26 school year include:

• Increased or maintained in all areas of accountability, with increases in 11 of 12 components.
• 100% of traditional elementary, middle, and high schools achieved proficiency (A, B, or C).
• The number of “A” schools increased from 29 in 2024-25 to 37 in 2025-26.
• VCS has no “D” or “F” schools and will have no schools identified as “turnaround” by the Florida Department of Education for the second consecutive year.
• 22 schools improved by at least one letter grade, 11 of which increased to an “A.”
• Four years ago, less than 50% of VCS schools were “A” or “B” rated; today, 90% of the district’s schools are “A” or “B” rated.

For a more detailed breakdown, visit: 2025-26 school grade highlights and noteworthy accomplishments.

Source: Florida Department of Education

How is a school’s grade calculated?

A school's grade is calculated based on components, including achievement in reading, math, science, and social studies, as well as acceleration and graduation rates, according to guidelines provided by the Department of Education. This is the fourth year that school and district grades were calculated using the Florida Assessment of Student Thinking (FAST) Progress Monitoring and Benchmarks for Excellent Student Thinking (B.E.S.T.) assessment results.

Volusia County Schools’ vision is to create life-long learners prepared for an ever-changing global society. The VCS Strategic Plan: www.vcsedu.org/strategic-plan.