Despite the fact that the system is designed to reward public schools for excellence in teaching, many educators and community members have criticized the program, claiming that the program takes funding from schools which need it most. It has also been criticized by many students and teachers because the schools put too much emphasis on the FCAT and not enough on preparing students for the real world. The parochial and private schools of excellence, recognized under federal guidelines separately from state guidelines, and proclaimed as superior by the Federal Government, in fact receive no public funds and are exempt from requiring their students to take the FCAT.
The FCAT tests have also come under fire from education groups and parents for encouraging teachers to teach students how to pass a test, rather than of teaching students the fundamental material in the core subjects of English. However when teachers do teach both their subject and the FCAT, students often feel overwhelmed.