The credit is going to a year-long reading program, which is run by the Director of Culinary Arts and the Media Specialist.

During the school year, they're known for cooking up culinary delights in the kitchen at Eastside High School, but many of the students in the magnet program have struggled with the FCAT, a test that determines whether students graduate from high school.

"We don't ever want to have a situation again where a student would be offered a financial scholarship be able to continue their education but be stymied because of the FCAT," said Carol Fass, Eastside High School Media Specialist.

Assistant Principal Sherrie Estes understands the reality for many of these students.

"Many of them, if they didn't have the culinary program, would not go anywhere and many would drop out," said Estes.

This year students in the program won close to $300,000 in scholarship money from competitions. But to guarantee they get to college, Faas paired with Billie Denunzio, local chef and the director of the culinary academy, to help students excel on the FCAT as they do in gourmet cooking.

100 percent of 9th through 12th graders in the culinary institute passed the FCAT.

Eastside High School is ranked a "C" in the county, but their culinary students are grade "A" prime.

This year, the FCAT scores for Eastside High School went up across the board.

Media Specialist Carol Faas has been recognized with a national award as a result of her work.