State school grades improving
The prospects for a straight-A student to be attending a school with an F rating – a worst case scenario in Mississippi public schools – has significantly diminished as a result of administrative remedial action, yet remains a possibility in Jackson Public Schools, the state’s largest system, according to a new report by the state department of education.
Recently released accountability grades for the 2023-2024 school year show improvements, including the largest-ever share of districts rated A, B or C, a significant milestone for a state that routinely has to take over failing school districts.
The State Board of Education set a goal in 2016 that all schools and districts be rated C or higher, as noted in this news report. That year, 62 percent of schools and districts met the goal. The 2023-2024 school year results show 85.7 percent of schools and 93.9 percent of districts with that C or higher grade.
Among districts previously taken over by the state, Holmes County Consolidated School District improved to a B this year. The district had maintained a C for two straight years but was rated F when the state took over in 2021.
Accountability grades are based on state and federal law and state board policy, and include:
Student proficiency and growth rates in English Language Arts (ELA) and Mathematics in grades 3-8
Growth of the lowest performing 25 percent of students in ELA and mathematics
Science proficiency in grades 5 and 8
English Learner progress toward becoming proficient in the English language
Performance on the ACT and high school Algebra I, English II, Biology and U.S. History assessments
Student participation and performance in advanced coursework such as Advanced Placement, career and technical education programs and dual credit/dual enrollment courses
Four-year graduation rate
The state is going into the tenth year of its current assessment contract.
State superintendent of education Lance Evans said the latest milestone is important but that it is now necessary to raise the bar. A straight-A student attending a C-grade school is not desirable, either. The full state report can be viewed here.
In metro Jackson, the stats are still subpar, largely due to deficiencies in the Jackson Public School system, where five schools received an A rating; seven a B; eight a C; 11 a D; and 14 a failing grade. The district was rated C overall.
Suburban Jackson communities fared better. Among Madison County schools, 18 received an A rating; three a B; and none a grade of C, D or F. In Rankin County, 17 schools received an A; 10 a B; and none a grade of C,D or F. Among Clinton public schools, four received an A; three a B; and none a lower grade. In Canton, two received an A; two a B; three a C; and one an F.
Image: Mississippi Department of Education