In light of recent Osceola County School Board squabbles, a bit of good education news surfaced.

Seventy-five percent of Osceola County’s 40 elementary, middle, and K-8 public schools received A or B grades when the grades were released by the state today.

Fourteen schools (35 percent), including a charter school, received A’s. Another 16 schools received B’s. There were only two D schools and no school in the district scored an F.

More than half (52 percent) of the schools maintained or increased their grade.

The Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test exam is still the main basis for the school grades, but due to the new middle school accountability formula, bonus points became available. For example, 88 percent of Osceola middle and combination K-8 schools received acceleration bonus points for successful completion of their high school algebra I courses.

Other formula changes impacted the results, such as newly implemented higher academic standards, new assessments that measure students' progress toward meeting those standards, and higher achievement levels for subjects such as reading and math.  These new standards and metrics used to determine school grades this year.

Melba Luciano, recently appointed as the district’s new superintendent, said the positive news was a direct result of the hard work shared by teachers and students alike.

"In light of the many changes, I am extremely proud of these results,” she said in a press release Wednesday.  "We will continue to stay focused on academic rigor in light of the increased expectations for our students so that every child is provided the best education possible."

Results for the county’s high schools, which still await the release of the second half of their school grades, and the district’s overall letter grade will be released at a later date.