CLAY COUNTY – While there was plenty of record information to glean from the newly released Florida Department of Education’s school grades, Superintendent David Broskie was already thinking about the new school year.

“We just received the highest score in county’s history, but I’m looking forward to seeing what we can achieve this year,” he said after the Clay County District Schools earned 813 points and finished with 28 schools earning “A” grades.

“The challenge is, no matter how good you do, you can always do better.”

The state graded Clay with 787 points for the 2023-24 school year and 793 in 2024-25. A year ago, 26 school earned “A” grades.

The Clay district has earned an “A” by the state in seven of the last eight years. Clay didn’t get a grade in 2021 due to the pandemic.

“I am immensely proud of the work done by the teachers, administrators, parents and students last year,” Broskie said. “We’re going to continue to work hard to improve even more. The challenge has been set.”

Additionally, 10 county schools were recognized as Schools of Excellence.

Each school was graded in 12 categories. Clay either improved or maintained last year’s scores in 11 of the 12. The only area with a slip was Mathematics Learning Gains of the Lowest 25%, and it was by a single point, 53-52.

Learning gains by a school contain the percentage of students at each grade level who demonstrate learning growth in English Language Arts and Mathematics, in both the highest and lowest statistical categories.

“We were No. 1 in the state in seventh-grade civics; ninth overall in biology and 10^th in science,” Broskie said, “and we were 10^th in ninth and 10^th grade E.L.A. [English Language Arts] and sixth in fifth-grade geometry.

“Ninety-eight percent of our schools were either an ‘A’ or ‘B.’ And we have one of the highest percentages of students who graduate.”

Orange Park, Middleburg, Ridgeview, Fleming Island and Oakleaf highs, along with Clay Virtual all received “A” grades. So did Green Cove Springs, Lakeside, Wilkinson and Lake Asbury junior highs and W.E. Cherry, Doctors Inlet, S. Bryan Jennings, Lakeside, Ridgeview, Clay Hill, R.M. Paterson, Montclair, Wilkinson, McRae, Fleming Island, Thunderbolt, RideOut, Swimming Pen, Argyle, Shadowlawn, Discovery Oaks and Spring Park elementary schools.

Grove Park and Coppergate elementaries and Orange Park Junior High improved from a “C” to a “B,” while Ridgeview High and Montclair, RideOut, Swimming Pen, Discovery Oaks and Wilkinson elementary schools improved from a “B” to an “A.”

Middleburg, Oakleaf Village and Lake Asbury elementary schools and Clay Charter Academy dropped from an “A” to a “B,” and Florida Cyber Charter Academy improved from a “D” to a “C.”

Also, St. Johns Classical Academy in Orange Park improved from a “C” to a “B,” while St. Johns Classical on Fleming Island remained an “A” school.

Pace Center for Girls - Clay also learned it received the highest rating from the Department of Education. Pace received a "commendable" rating in the School Improvement for the second consecutive year, according to CEO Dr. Genelle Thomas.

"This is a significant accomplishment for Pace Clay and is a testament to our staff, volunteers and girls' dedication and hard work," Thomas said.

The county can start looking to improve its record scores when students return for classes on Tuesday, Aug. 11.