TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) - Florida's public schools are sixth in Education Week's annual rankings this year after falling out of the top 10 last year.
    
The publication released its 2013 "Quality Counts" rankings Thursday.
    
Florida dropped from fifth to 11th last year largely due to weaker student performance and spending cuts.
    
The state again received a low mark of D-plus for school finance, one of six grading categories.
    
Florida, though, earned an A for transitions and alignment. That category tracks state policy efforts to coordinate kindergarten through 12th grade education with early learning, post-secondary education and the workforce.
    
The state also was graded A for standards, assessments and accountability. Florida received a B for its teaching profession, a C for students' chances of success and a C-minus for student achievement.

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