ORLANDO, Fla. -- An Orange County elementary school went from an F-rating to an A in one year after it was discovered that dozens of students needed eyeglasses, the school principal said.

Mollie Rae Elementary School in Orlando received its A rating on Thursday, and principal Kathryn Shuler credited the jump to vision -- literally and figuratively.

"We tested 100 percent of our (530) students with the help of UCF. We found that some of the students weren't improving because they couldn't see," said principal Kathryn Shuler.

Shuler said she brought in pre-med students from the University of Central Florida when teachers realized the students were not improving with their weekly progress reports. Nearly 50 students needed glasses, and 80 percent of those students had to take the FCAT, Shuler said.

Shuler said other factors -- including a focus on achievement, training sessions and volunteers -- also helped, calling the success a community effort.

Nine-year-old Nadine Norvelus earned the highest score in the elementary school on the writing section of the FCAT.

"My hands did get tired, but I just kept on writing, and then, I think a lady from the state said I could probably write a book," Nadine said.

62% Of Fla. Schools Earn A's

Meanwhile, Florida's public schools have reached an all-time high this year with 62 percent earning an A in the state's grading system.

But state officials said Thursday that the schools continue to fall short when it comes to the federal government's No Child Left Behind program.

Only 23 percent of 3,354 Florida schools made adequate yearly progress under No Child Left Behind -- 1 percentage point less than last year.

That's in sharp contrast to the state grades. Not all schools are graded, but of 2,954 included this year, 62 percent received an A, 17 percent a B, 14 percent a C, 6 percent a D and only 1 percent an F.

There were only 44 F -- or failing -- schools, one fewer than last year.