Holmes County School District earns ‘B’ grade for first time since 2011

The Florida Department of Education has released district grades for the 2024–2025 academic year, and Holmes County officially earned a ‘B’ rating — a significant step up from the previous year’s ‘C’ and the district’s highest grade in more than a decade.

“This is the first time since 2011 that our district has reached this point of achievement,” said Superintendent Buddy Brown. “We are excited about making the grade as a B district. But I and our staff are not satisfied with this grade. As I have said from the first day of my administration, we will work toward continuous school improvement until success at this level is not only an expectation but a matter of business.”

Brown emphasized that this milestone reflects a collective effort across the district, crediting every employee — from classroom teachers to support staff — for helping Holmes County move forward.

“I want to make sure everyone knows that this level of achievement is accomplished by a total team effort,” he said. “Any machine breaks down if just one small part fails or struggles to maintain its role in the system.”

Teachers were specifically commended for their dedication to student growth and for adjusting to the changing academic environment. “Our teachers are to be praised for their hard work and effort in striving for higher levels of achievement and proficiency — all while navigating the ever-changing landscape of accountability and student scores here in the state of Florida,” Brown said.

Over the last five years, schools across the district have shown consistent growth, despite challenges brought on by shifting state standards and assessment methods. Brown noted that some short-term dips occurred during transitions, such as the 2022–2023 school year, when the state introduced progress monitoring and adjusted the grading methodology.

“It usually takes at least a year or two to adjust to new standards and evaluation systems,” Brown said. “But our staff remained focused and committed through it all, and this new grade reflects that dedication.”

District officials say the focus now turns to maintaining momentum, supporting teachers, and continuing to raise expectations — with the ultimate goal of achieving an ‘A’ grade in the near future.