School grades provide an easily understandable metric to measure the performance of a school. Parents and the general public can use the school grade and its associated components to understand how well each school is serving its students. The school grades calculation was revised substantially for the 2014-15 school year to implement statutory changes made by the 2014 Legislature and incorporate the new Florida Standards Assessments (FSA). The 2015-16 school grades model uses the new school grades model adopted for 2014-15 and includes the new learning gains components for the first time. The purpose of this technical guide is to provide a description of the procedures used to determine school grades for the 2015-16 school year as set forth in Rule 6A-1.09981, Florida Administrative Code (F.A.C.), and Section 1008.34, Florida Statutes (F.S.). This guide does not replace or supersede the rule or statute and is intended to provide the reader with an explanation of the methodology for establishing grades as set forth in rule and statute. The school grading system focuses the school grading formula on student success measures. (1) achievement; (2) learning gains; (3) graduation; (4) acceleration success; and (5) maintaining a focus on students who need the most support.