School grades in Florida are based on three main factors:
*Student scores on FCAT reading, writing and math in grades three to 10; science scores in grades five, eight and 11; and writing scores in grades four, eight and 10.
*Improvement in students' reading and math scores from the previous year.
*Reading and math improvement by the bottom 25 percent of a school's students.
Schools get points for how well they do in each category, which determines their final grade. High schools get bonus points for 11th- and 12th-graders who pass FCAT reading and math after failing the exam in 10th grade.
FCAT participation matters, too. To get an A, schools have to test at least 95 percent of their students; to get a B, C or D, 90 percent.