FAST Test Levels – How Does Your School Compare?
In the 2022–2023 academic year, Florida transitioned from the Florida Standards Assessments (FSA) to the Florida Assessment of Student Thinking (FAST). Unlike the FSA’s single end-of-year exam, FAST administers shorter, computer-based tests three times annually—Progress Monitoring 1 (PM1), Progress Monitoring 2 (PM2), and Progress Monitoring 3 (PM3). This shift allows educators to monitor student progress throughout the year and adjust instruction as needed.
FAST Achievement Levels
FAST assessments categorize student performance into five levels:
- Level 1: Well below grade level; students at this level will likely need substantial support in the next grade.
- Level 2: Below grade level; these students may also need significant support to improve their skills.
- Level 3: On grade level; students are meeting expectations but may still benefit from targeted instruction.
- Level 4: Proficient; students here are likely to do well in the next grade, demonstrating strong understanding.
- Level 5: Exemplary; students at this level are excelling and well-prepared for future coursework.
These levels help educators and parents understand a student’s proficiency and the support they may need.
How FAST Scores Impact School Grades
FAST scores play a crucial role in determining school letter grades, which influence funding and resources. Higher student achievement levels can lead to improved school grades, increasing access to additional support and enhancing the school’s reputation.
Analyzing 2023–2024 FAST Results
Percent Meeting At Least Level 3 on PM 3
ELA (Average of Grades 3-10) by School District
| ST. JOHNS | 72% |
| NASSAU | 66% |
| SUMTER | 64% |
| GILCHRIST | 62% |
| SANTA ROSA | 62% |
| LAFAYETTE | 61% |
| SARASOTA | 61% |
| CLAY | 60% |
| SEMINOLE | 60% |
| WAKULLA | 60% |
| WALTON | 60% |
| OKALOOSA | 59% |
| BREVARD | 58% |
| INDIAN RIVER | 57% |
| BROWARD | 56% |
| COLLIER | 56% |
| MIAMI-DADE | 56% |
| LIBERTY | 56% |
| PINELLAS | 56% |
| CALHOUN | 55% |
| FLAGLER | 55% |
| JACKSON | 54% |
| PALM BEACH | 54% |
| BAY | 53% |
| DIXIE | 53% |
| ALACHUA | 52% |
| BAKER | 52% |
| CHARLOTTE | 52% |
| COLUMBIA | 52% |
| GLADES | 52% |
| LEON | 52% |
| MARTIN | 52% |
| ORANGE | 52% |
| PASCO | 52% |
| CITRUS | 51% |
| MANATEE | 51% |
| UNION | 51% |
| HILLSBOROUGH | 50% |
| LAKE | 50% |
| MONROE | 50% |
| VOLUSIA | 50% |
| HERNANDO | 49% |
| ST. LUCIE | 48% |
| SUWANNEE | 48% |
| HIGHLANDS | 47% |
| LEE | 47% |
| OSCEOLA | 47% |
| WASHINGTON | 47% |
| DUVAL | 46% |
| ESCAMBIA | 46% |
| GULF | 46% |
| HARDEE | 46% |
| HOLMES | 46% |
| LEVY | 46% |
| MARION | 45% |
| BRADFORD | 44% |
| POLK | 44% |
| OKEECHOBEE | 41% |
| PUTNAM | 41% |
| TAYLOR | 41% |
| FRANKLIN | 40% |
| HENDRY | 40% |
| MADISON | 40% |
| HAMILTON | 36% |
| DESOTO | 34% |
| GADSDEN | 31% |
| JEFFERSON | 31% |
Math (Average of Grades 3-8) by School District
| Nassau | 77% |
| St. Johns | 77% |
| Lafayette | 72% |
| Walton | 69% |
| Sumter | 68% |
| Collier | 67% |
| Okaloosa | 67% |
| Santa Rosa | 67% |
| Sarasota | 66% |
| Liberty | 65% |
| Clay | 64% |
| Gilchrist | 63% |
| Glades | 63% |
| Seminole | 62% |
| Indian River | 61% |
| Calhoun | 60% |
| Pinellas | 60% |
| Union | 60% |
| Columbia | 59% |
| Miami-Dade | 59% |
| Brevard | 58% |
| Broward | 58% |
| Dixie | 58% |
| Wakulla | 58% |
| Flagler | 57% |
| Manatee | 57% |
| Bay | 56% |
| Martin | 56% |
| Orange | 56% |
| Palm Beach | 56% |
| Charlotte | 55% |
| Lake | 55% |
| Baker | 54% |
| Leon | 54% |
| Bradford | 53% |
| Citrus | 53% |
| Highlands | 53% |
| Hillsborough | 53% |
| Levy | 53% |
| Monroe | 53% |
| Suwannee | 53% |
| Lee | 52% |
| Pasco | 52% |
| Volusia | 52% |
| Washington | 52% |
| Alachua | 51% |
| Jackson | 51% |
| Hardee | 50% |
| Hernando | 50% |
| St. Lucie | 50% |
| Holmes | 49% |
| Duval | 48% |
| Gulf | 48% |
| Okeechobee | 48% |
| Escambia | 47% |
| Marion | 47% |
| Taylor | 46% |
| Polk | 45% |
| DeSoto | 44% |
| Hamilton | 44% |
| Osceola | 44% |
| Putnam | 44% |
| Madison | 37% |
| Franklin | 36% |
| Gadsden | 36% |
| Jefferson | 36% |
| Hendry | 35% |
The 2023–2024 FAST results reveal significant insights:
- English Language Learners (ELLs): Struggled the most, with only 14% proficiency in ELA and 30% in Math.
- Math Improvement: Students improved 42 percentage points in Math from PM1 to PM3, compared to a 20-point increase in ELA, suggesting that math interventions might be more effective or more urgently needed.
- ELA Proficiency: Grades 3–10 ELA proficiency increased from 49% in 2023 to 53% in 2024, showing a 4-percentage-point improvement.
- Grade-Level Growth:
- Elementary (Grades 3–5): Saw a 3-point increase in proficiency (51% to 54%).
- Middle & High School (Grades 6–10): Lagged only slightly behind, with only 52% reaching proficiency.
Top-Performing Districts in FAST 2023–2024
ELA (Grades 3–10) – Highest Proficiency
- St. Johns County – 72%
- Nassau County – 66%
- Sumter County – 64%
Math (Grades 3–8) – Highest Proficiency
- St. Johns County – 77%
- Nassau County – 77%
- Okaloosa County – 67%
10th-Grade ELA: A Critical Graduation Benchmark
- 53% of 10th-grade students scored at or above Level 3, up from 47% in 2023 (+6 points).
- While this increase is promising, nearly half of all 10th graders are still not meeting proficiency, putting them at risk of not meeting Florida’s graduation requirements.
- Key concern: Many students with disabilities (SWD) and English Language Learners (ELLs) are far below proficiency, with only 22% of SWD and 10% of ELLs scoring Level 3 or above.
Math & Algebra 1: A Mixed Picture
- Grades 3–8 math proficiency increased from 51% to 55% (+4 points).
- Growth in math was stronger than in ELA, with a 42-percentage-point increase from PM1 to PM3 (14% to 56%).
- 83% of middle school Algebra 1 students passed.
- Only 33% of high school Algebra 1 students passed, a major red flag for graduation rates.
📊 View the full 2023–2024 FAST results here: Florida Department of Education FAST Results.
How Progress Learning Can Help
With FAST data now available, schools must act quickly to address gaps and ensure students move toward proficiency. Progress Learning provides a comprehensive suite of intervention, progress monitoring, and remediation tools designed to help students achieve higher FAST test levels.
- Liftoff: Adaptive Intervention for Struggling Learners
Many students scoring at Level 1 or Level 2 need targeted intervention to catch up. Liftoff, Progress Learning’s adaptive intervention program, identifies skill gaps and delivers personalized instruction to bring students up to grade level.
- Automatically identifies each student’s performance level
- Adjusts in real-time to provide individualized remediation
- Covers foundational ELA and math skills necessary for FAST success
Liftoff is especially effective for ELL students and students with disabilities (SWD) who need extra reinforcement. With built-in Spanish translation for Florida-aligned questions, ELL students can access content more easily while strengthening their understanding.
Quick Click Remediation: Immediate Support Based on Assessment Data
Progress Learning makes remediation easier and more efficient with Quick Click Remediation—a feature that allows teachers to instantly assign targeted practice for students who need additional support.
- Identifies skill gaps based on student test performance
- Provides immediate, focused practice to reinforce key concepts
- Helps students move from Levels 1 and 2 to Levels 3, 4, and 5
Custom and Pre-Built Assessments for Targeted Instruction
FAST requires frequent progress monitoring to ensure students are improving before the next assessment window. With Progress Learning, educators can:
- Create custom assessments using items aligned to Florida’s B.E.S.T. Standards from our item bank of over 200,000 questions
- Use pre-built assessments that mimic FAST test questions and difficulty levels
- Track student progress over time to see growth between PM1, PM2, and PM3
School and District-Level Reporting for Precise Growth Tracking
Administrators and educators need detailed data insights to make informed decisions about instruction and intervention. Progress Learning provides:
- Student-level progress reports to see individual growth patterns
- Classroom and grade-level insights to help teachers adjust instruction
- District-wide reporting tools to monitor trends across multiple campuses
These insights allow schools to pinpoint students at risk of scoring below Level 3 and implement targeted strategies before the next FAST test window.
Gamification: Making Learning Engaging and Effective
Students perform better when they’re engaged. That’s why Progress Learning incorporates gamification and interactive practice to encourage active participation.
- Arcade-like games reward students for completing practice questions
- Progress tracking and achievements keep students motivated
- Personalized learning paths ensure students work at their own pace
With Florida schools facing ongoing challenges in ELA and math proficiency, Progress Learning provides the right tools at the right time to help students succeed. Whether it’s remediating struggling students, tracking progress with precision, or boosting engagement, Progress Learning gives educators the support they need to improve student outcomes.
