[cgk]

Found This on how the FCAT scores...
It appears to be some kind of incentive tipsheet for teachers so they can make more money? ("IMPORTANT WAYS TO INCREASE YOUR PAYCHECK! " is the page headline).

FCAT Total Scores The scores from the handscoring and machine-scoring are combined to create a student's total score. For FCAT mathematics and reading tests at each grade level, the results are reported on similar total score scales. The lowest possible score is 100, the highest possible score is 500, and the average score is approximately 300. A "total score," or "scale score," of 100 to 500 is assigned to each student to represent achievement on an entire reading test or mathematics test.

[k2blader]

The lowest possible score is 100, the highest possible score is 500, and the average score is approximately 300.

Thanks, cgk.

Let's see...

287/500 (reading) = 57.4%
295/500 (math) = 59%

So a student can pass with a "D" grade...