Volusia, Flagler Student Achievement Measured in 2026 Spring Assessments

Students in both Volusia and Flagler counties rated above the Florida state average in the recently released 2026 spring assessments. The Florida Department of Education (FLDOE) released the applicable data on Friday. The seven tracked subjects in the assessment are ELA (English and language arts), mathematics, fifth grade science, eighth grade science, biology end-of-course, civics end-of-course, and U.S. history end-of-course. Volusia County Schools beat the state average in ELA, mathematics, fifth and eighth grade science, and biology end-of-course. Flagler Schools rated above state average in all but U.S. history where it was equal and civics end-of-course where it was two points behind. The area of greatest improvement for Flagler County students was Grade 8 science, in which pass rates rose from 54% last year to 60% this year. That puts Flagler students three percentage points higher than the statewide figure of 57%. Among Volusia County’s greatest achievements was their advancement in Grade 10 ELA, which was the highest among ten school districts in Central Florida. “We are incredibly proud of the progress our students have made,” said Volusia Superintendent Dr. Carmen J. Balgobin. “These improved FAST reading and math scores, along with gains in science and end-of-course exams, are more than numbers to us. They represent real children growing in confidence, real classrooms filled with curiosity, and real educators pouring their hearts into teaching every single day. Our students, teachers, and staff worked extremely hard for these results, and our families, Volusia County School Board members, and community stood right beside them.” “These results are a testament to the hard work and dedication that students and staff have continued to show year after year,” added Flagler Schools Superintendent LaShakia Moore. “A major contributing factor was our continuous improvement cycles which encompasses schoolwide improvement plans, streamlined assessment windows, instructional reviews, and data chats.” Statewide, 61% percent of students across Florida are performing at or above grade level. This figure is up from 49% in 2023, marking a 12-point increase in three years. Though Florida is on an upward climb, the 2025 edition of World Population Review ranked it 38th in K-12 academic performance. “Florida did not become the Education State by accident. We got here by setting high expectations, empowering parents, supporting teachers, and refusing to settle for the status quo,” said Governor Ron DeSantis. “For the first time ever, more than 60 percent of Florida students are now performing on or above grade level in both English language arts and mathematics. This success demonstrates that our education reforms, like progress monitoring, are delivering real results for our students.”