School stops serving Mountain Dew before testing due to complaints

MELBOURNE, Fla.—A complaint that elementary school students were drinking Mountain Dew before taking a high-stakes, standardized test has prompted Creel Elementary School to stop the long-standing practice.

The Melbourne school has been serving students trail mix and a small amount of Mountain Dew, about 3 tablespoons, before administering the Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test each day.

But giving students a sugary drink before the test – which is used in educational decisions, from teacher evaluations to student retentions – has raised concerns.