Neshoba Central receives ‘A’ grade from state
Following the second consecutive “A” accountability rating for the 2022-2023 school year from the Mississippi State Board of Education last week, Nehsoba County School District officials say they look forward to an even better 2023-2024 school year.
The state issues accountability ratings on an “A” to “F” scale and centers on the progress of students from one school year to the next.
“These high ratings are difficult to maintain but we are extremely proud of what we have done,” said Superintendent Josh Perkins. “We know we can be better across the board and we will continue to do that.”
The county school district finished among the top-performing districts in East Central Mississippi and tied with the Petal School District for number four in the state out of 137 districts with 766 total points.
Philadelphia Public Schools maintained a “C” rating for another year with 573 points.
Dr. Shannon Whitehead, Superintendent of the Philadelphia Public School District, said despite maintaining the same grade as last year, the school district improved by 136 points.
“The Philadelphia schools have made great strides,” Whitehead said. “We are proud of our improvement and are on the cusp of a “B” rating.”
Neshoba Central’s 766 accountability score from the Mississippi Academic Assessment Program was the highest in its history and 39 points higher than the previous year.
“Obviously we are thrilled,” Perkins said and went on to call the school district’s performance “remarkable.”
MAAP measures student performance in English/Language Arts, and mathematics in grades three through eight, science in grades five and eight along with English II, Algebra I, Biology, and U.S. History in high school.
Perkins noted that this is the first time all three schools in the school district have had simultaneous “A” ratings.
Neshoba Central High School's accountability rating was 781. Perkins said that is up 90 points from last year’s “B” rating. He also noted that the elementary school and middle school saw growth as well.
The school district also posted a 92.9 graduation rate.