As it sets its wheels in motion to win and implement a federal Race to the Top grant, the Florida Department of Education wants to make sure it covers all bases of the application.

That includes turning around the lowest-performing schools.. To fix them, the state must identify them. It turns out we have a few in our neck of the woods, according to a DOE memo circulated late Friday.

On the "lowest 5 percent of Title I-eligible schools" list (19 schools), we find:

• Hernando County: Hernando High, Central High
• Pasco County: Ridgewood High
• Pinellas County: Boca Ciega High, Dixie Hollins High, Lakewood High, Gibbs High

On the "lowest 5 percent of Title I schools" list (51 schools, predominantly from Miami-Dade and Duval), we find:

• Hillsborough County: Middleton High, Jefferson High , Franklin Middle Magnet

These schools will be eligible for extra grants to improve their performance, IF their districts agree to implement the key reforms of Florida's Race to the Top application. Hernando officials already have decided to pursue the grant. Leaders in other districts have until the end of the week to signal their support.

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