DeSantis celebrates record classroom gains as Florida testing results climb
Tallahassee, Florida – In Florida’s classrooms, the biggest number this week was not written on a chalkboard. It was 60. For the first time, state officials say more than 60% of Florida students are performing on or above grade level in both English language arts and mathematics, a milestone Gov. Ron DeSantis described as proof that the state’s testing overhaul is producing measurable results.
The end-of-year progress monitoring results show a sharp climb since 2023, when Florida launched its coordinated progress monitoring system. In English language arts, the share of students scoring on or above grade level rose from 49% in 2023 to 61% in 2026. In mathematics, the number moved from 53% to 62% over the same period. That means ELA improved by 12 percentage points, while math rose by 9 percentage points.
“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,” DeSantis said.
“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.”
The results also give the state a larger story than percentages alone. Since progress monitoring began, more than 150,000 additional students in grades 3 through 10 are now meeting or exceeding grade-level expectations in English language arts. State officials compared that number to roughly the population of Hollywood, Florida. In mathematics, nearly 115,000 additional students across all math assessments are now performing on or above grade level, about the size of Clearwater.
Florida’s system changed the rhythm of school testing. Instead of relying only on a traditional end-of-year exam, the state uses the Florida Assessment of Student Thinking, known as FAST, to check student performance during the year. The Florida Department of Education says the program includes ELA and mathematics assessments administered three times per year, giving families and teachers earlier information about where students are succeeding and where they may need help.
That earlier feedback is one of the main reasons state leaders are celebrating the 2026 results. In grades 3 through 10 ELA, 61% of students scored on or above grade level on the final PM3 assessment, up 4 percentage points from 2025 and 12 points from 2023. The growth inside the school year was even larger: 39% of students were at or above grade level at the beginning of the year, compared with 61% by the end.
Math showed an even steeper in-year climb. In grades 3 through 8, only 16% of students scored on or above grade level at the start of the school year. By PM3, that figure had jumped to 62%, a 46-point increase. Compared with 2025, math performance improved by 3 percentage points, and compared with 2023, it rose by 9 points.
The gains were not limited to statewide averages. Students from economically disadvantaged families, African American students, Hispanic students, and English language learners each improved by 5 percentage points in grades 3 through 10 ELA compared with 2025. In grades 3 through 8 math, English language learners gained 6 points, Hispanic students gained 4 points, and economically disadvantaged students and African American students each gained 3 points. Students with disabilities also improved, rising 3 points in ELA and 2 points in math.
Commissioner of Education Anastasios Kamoutsas praised students, parents and teachers, saying the results reflect work that has been building over time.
“I am very proud of the progress monitoring results this year,” he said. “These tremendous gains are a testament to the hard work of Florida’s students, the unwavering support of parents, and the high-quality instruction delivered by teachers across the state.”
The broader assessment results added more good news for the state. Algebra 1 reached 61% at or above grade level, up 4 points from 2025 and 11 points from 2023. Geometry reached 55%, up 1 point from 2025 and 9 points from 2023. Science performance in grades 5 and 8, along with Biology 1, reached its highest level since those tests were first administered, with Biology 1 at 74%.
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Social studies also hit record marks. Civics reached 76%, up 6 points from 2025, while U.S. History reached 73%, up 3 points. For state officials, the message was clear: the numbers are moving in the direction they wanted. For students, families and teachers, the next test is whether Florida can turn one historic year into a lasting pattern.
