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Florida high impact elementary school award

Meet the Schools That Could Transform Florida’s Education System

 

Some schools are quietly achieving student growth seven times the state average — but no one’s recognizing them, learning from them, or scaling their success.

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The Florida High Impact Elementary School Award (FHI Award) changes that. It shines a spotlight on schools that are helping students make extraordinary gains from kindergarten through Grade 5 — and creates a statewide system to learn from what works.

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Learn how this new award framework could drive a tenfold improvement in early learning gains across Florida.

Why it matters.

Across Florida, some schools are quietly achieving remarkable results — even in challenging circumstances. These high-impact schools demonstrate that demographics do not define destiny when evidence-based strategies, strong leadership, and a culture of high expectations come together.

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The Florida High Impact Elementary School Award helps:

  • Recognize schools driving significant learning gains

  • Spotlight effective, scalable practices

  • Encourage replication of successful models statewide

  • Build momentum toward excellence for all schools

key features.

  • Data-Driven Selection — Based on student growth, achievement, and gap-closing metrics from the Early Gains Index.

  • Equity & Excellence Criteria — Honors schools showing both high overall performance and equitable outcomes.

  • Comprehensive Review — Includes site visits, educator interviews, and qualitative measures of culture and leadership.

  • Best Practices Playbook — Each awardee contributes insights and strategies to a public repository.

  • Statewide Recognition — Honored schools receive public acknowledgment and opportunities to mentor others.

How it works.

  1. Identify & Nominate — Schools are nominated based on data trends and district recommendations.

  2. Evaluate — A review team analyzes quantitative data and conducts qualitative assessments.

  3. Recognize — Selected schools are celebrated through statewide announcements and events.

  4. Share — Awardees publish success stories, toolkits, and mentorship opportunities to help other schools grow.

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