A few Pike County schools saw improvement when the Mississippi Department of Education released annual accountability grades last week. Other schools clung to their 2012-2013 grade, thanks to a waiver option this year.
With the Common Core curriculum being introduced, schools could waive the 2013-2014 grade and keep the 2012-2013 grade, should the older one be the better of the two.
The McComb School District received an overall D rating again this year. There was better news at McComb High School, which climbed from a failing grade of F to a C. The percentage of students passing the algebra, U.S. history, biology and English subject tests increased across the board. The biology subject test had the biggest improvement: 59 percent of students passed in 2012-2013 but 75 percent did in 2013-2014.
Superintendent Dr. Cederick Ellis was relieved, albeit not surprised, with the high school’s turnaround.
“We are where we thought we would be, based on everything we put in place,” he said.
Denman Junior High School also made positive steps, going from a D to a C, with an increase in mean scores across all grades in math and language arts assessment tests.
Higgins Middle School waived this year’s D grade and kept its previous C grade. Otken Elementary School, in its first year to be given an accountability grade, received a C.
While some district schools are taking steps in the right direction, Ellis acknowledged there is room for improvement.
“Although we have seen success, we still have much work we need to do,“ he said. “Of course, we are not pleased with our district being graded a D. We are pleased with the progress, but much progress remains,” he said.
Left unexplained is how McComb schools all received official C grades, yet the district received a D grade overall.
South Pike School District’s overall grade improved to a C from a D. The four-year graduation rate for 2013-2014 was 86.6 percent, the highest in the county.
The high school leapt from a D to a B. An impressive 95 percent of students who took the algebra subject test passed.
Eva Gordon Upper Elementary School increased from a F to D.
South Pike Superintendent Estes Taplin said the progress made in both schools was a “team effort.”
Regarding Eva Gordon Upper Elementary, Taplin said he is grateful for the staff taking action and pulling the school out of a rut.
“It has been a failing school for five years and this year the administration and staff were successful in bringing it up to a D,” he said. “We are appreciative for what they were able to do in the meantime.”
Taplin also praised the high school’s new principal, Lisa Davis, for her work in changing attitudes and improving scores.
“We have always had good teachers there. But Ms. Davis was able to come in ... and we were successful this year,” he said.
South Pike Junior High School and Osyka Elementary School both received Ds, but officially kept their previous C grades.
Like Ellis in McComb, Taplin said he wants South Pike schools to stay on the right track and keep improving.
“Even though we have experienced success we still have a lot of improvements to make,” he said.
In Summit, the North Pike School District waived its overall C grade and kept the previous B grade.
North Pike Elementary School received a C rating, but kept its previous B grade. North Pike Middle School maintained a C rating. And North Pike High School kept the prior year’s B rating, instead of a C grade.
North Pike Superintendent Dennis Penton said he was pleased with his district’s performance.
“While I do hope we can improve, I am very pleased with the fact that the schools maintained the level they did,” he said. “It was a tough year with the change over to the new curriculum. But I think the personnel, teachers and staff stayed focused and did a great job maintaining their level.”
With Common Core assesments and no waivers looming, the superintendents are leery about what future grades may look like.
Ellis said his district is bracing itself for what future assessments and grades may be.
Taplin was more straightforward about his expectations.
“Based upon research, with Common Core being introduced, it’s a good possibility schools will plummet next year,” he said. “But we are going to continue to work smart and stay focused.”
Penton agreed scores may drop. Unfamiliar assessment tests and change in teaching styles take time to implement, he said.
However, Penton said his main goal is preparing his students for college. And assessment grades may not always paint the whole picture.
“Education goes much deeper than assessment grades,” he said.
