West Shore’s eighth- and 10th-grade students rank first in the Brevard Public School District for highest overall composite score on the 2011 FCAT Writes.

“The students are the ones responsible. They worked hard and were dedicated. They made an effort and made it happen,” sophomore English teacher Jeanie Griffin said.

The 10th-graders overall composite score improved from a 5.0 to a 5.1, while the eighth-graders scored a 4.8, improving two tenths of a point from last year.

“The improvement was because of a combination of great students and hard work,” Principal Rick Fleming said.

This is the second year in a row West Shore has ranked first in the district.

The 10th-grade prompt was expository this year rather than persuasive, which students had been practicing for all year.

“I was shocked when I found out the prompt was expository rather than persuasive, but I knew they would do just fine,” Griffin said.

By Rachel Kershaw