It’s Tuesday, Orlando. Once again, we’ll likely see a mix of rain and sun today, starting with mostly sunny skies early and scattered storms later in the day. Highs will be around 92. Here’s what’s on deck:

• Florida Students Show Academic Gains Across the Board

• Orlando Health Expands Downtown Campus with $10M Purchase

Let’s dive in.

EDUCATION

Florida Students Show Academic Gains Across the Board

What's New: Florida students improved in math, reading, science, and social studies this school year, according to standardized test scores released yesterday. Education Commissioner Manny Diaz highlighted the “notable” and “substantial gains” made by public school students in the 2023-24 school year.

Key Numbers:

• Third-grade reading: 22% failed this year, down from 27% in 2023.

• Algebra 1 exam: 53% passed, up from 50% last year, but below the 60% pass rate in 2019.

• Fourth-grade reading: 53% scored at grade level, down from 58% last year.

• Fourth-grade math: 58% scored at grade level, down from 61% last year.

District Highlights:

• Orange County: 69% passed the state biology exam, up from 63%.

• Osceola County: Gains across all tests and grade levels, with a notable increase in fifth-grade science (40% to 42% scoring at grade level) and high school U.S. history (57% to 62%).

FAST Exams: This is the second year of the Florida Assessment of Student Thinking (FAST), which replaced the FSA reading and math exams. The exams are progress-monitoring tests taken three times each year to guide learning and assess student readiness.

Big Picture: Despite pandemic setbacks, Florida students are making significant strides in most subjects, and the FAST exams are proving effective in tracking and supporting student progress.

Read more here (Orlando Sentinel)

HEALTHCARE

Orlando Health Expands Downtown Campus with $10M Purchase

What's New: Orlando Health acquired three properties near its downtown campus, spending $10 million on 2.71 acres.

Key Acquisitions:

• 1107 Atlanta Ave: 0.56-acre with two 1,250 sq. ft. commercial buildings, bought for $2.1 million from Triton North.

• 1125 Atlanta Ave: 0.56-acre with a 4,200 sq. ft. industrial building, purchased for $2 million from Orin G. Cooper II.

• 1120 S. Hughey Ave: 1.59-acre with three warehouses (16,000 sq. ft., 7,121 sq. ft., and 2,855 sq. ft.), bought for $5.9 million from Triton North.

Purpose: Orlando Health aims to use these properties to "support the region's growing healthcare needs," according to spokeswoman Kena Lewis. Specific plans for the properties have not been disclosed.

According to industry expert Matthew Weinberger, health systems sometimes purchase properties without immediate plans, controlling future development around their campuses.

About Orlando Health:

• Revenue: $6.1 billion (fiscal 2023)

• Staff: Over 29,000 team members and 1,500 physicians

• Patient Volume: 197,000 inpatients and 6.6 million outpatients (fiscal 2023)

• Facilities: 17 hospitals, 10 free-standing emergency rooms, and nine Hospital Care at Home programs, with four additional hospitals and six emergency rooms planned.

The Bottom Line: Orlando Health's strategic property purchases near its downtown campus underscore its commitment to meeting growing healthcare demands and controlling future development in the area.

Read more here (Orlando Business Journal)

QUICK HITS

In Other News…

1. More indoor pickleball is coming to Orlando, with Pickleball Kingdom planning to open multiple Central Florida locations.

2. Downtown Orlando restaurants are seeing a 50% drop in business, stemming from a decline in foot traffic.

3. A new report ranked the best-run US cities. Check out where Orlando landed here.

Thanks for tuning in to today’s edition of the newsletter. See you back here tomorrow.

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