Florida preschools like state's new pre

A DeLand preschool, perennially labeled “low performing” by the state, had reason to celebrate this year.

The House Next Door earned the highest possible rating — “excellent” — under Florida’s new rating system for schools taking part in its pre-kindergarten program.

“We have bragging rights now. The parents get bragging rights, too. Because their children have done well,” said Carrie Creese, the school’s principal.

For decades, Florida judged the quality of its pre-K program — contracted out mostly to private childcare centers and schools though some public schools take part, too — on how students did on a “readiness” assessment given when they started kindergarten.

Critics long argued that penalized schools like The House Next Door, which serve mostly children from low-income familie