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Mississippi releases school accountability grades for 2023-24

By Kaitlin Howell Sep 17, 2024 | 11:08 AM

JACKSON, Miss. (WJTV) – The Mississippi Department of Education (MDE) released accountability grades for the 2023-24 school year. The grades showed 85.7% of schools and 93.9% of districts earned a grade of C or higher.

According to MDE, the largest-ever share of Mississippi districts are now rated A, B or C. In 2016, the Mississippi State Board of Education (SBE) set a goal that all schools and districts be rated C or higher. At that time, the percentage of schools and districts meeting this goal were both 62%.

Statewide student assessment data make up a large part of accountability grades. In 2023-24, the overall percentage of students scoring proficient and advanced reached an all-time high in mathematics, English Language Arts (ELA) and science.

(Courtesy: MDE)

“I am incredibly proud of our students, teachers and school leaders for their academic achievements in the 2023-24 school year,” said Dr. Lance Evans, state superintendent of education. “This year’s school and district grades are a testament to the quality and success of Mississippi public schools. I am confident we will continue to build upon this success to make sure every Mississippi public school graduate is prepared for a successful future.” 

School and district achievements in 2023-24 extend to all districts under state leadership because of poor academic performance or a state of emergency. According to MDE, all four state-led districts have steadily improved under state leadership: 

  • Holmes County Consolidated School District: Improved to a B grade this year, after maintaining a C for two consecutive years. The district was rated F when it was taken over in 2021.  
  • Noxubee County School District: Maintained its C grade from 2023, improving upon its D rating in 2022. The district earned an F every year from 2016 to 2021.  
  • Achievement School District (ASD): The Humphreys County portion of the ASD improved its grade to a C, improving upon its D grade in 2023 and F in 2022. The Yazoo City portion of the ASD improved to a C from an F in 2023.   

“The progress of our state-led districts proves what is possible when educators raise expectations, focus intensely on high-quality instruction and provide strong leadership,” Evans said. “Students are achieving at higher levels because they are being challenged and supported to succeed.”