2022-23 grades for Mississippi schools are out. Here’s how Coast districts performed
Two Mississippi Coast public school districts and three high schools topped state rankings this year, according to figures released Thursday by the Mississippi Department of Education.
The department ranked Ocean Springs School District first in the state in an accountability system that tracks the performance of every school in Mississippi.
Long Beach School District came in second.
Educators from Ocean Springs and Long Beach said those scores come from the hard work of students, staff and educators across their districts.
“The accomplishments of this year’s accountability ratings speak to the amazing teamwork of our district,” Ocean Springs superintendent Michael Lindsey said in a press release. “The data released is a testament to our teachers, staff, administration, parents, and students, and their commitment to excellence.”
Long Beach Superintendent Talia Lock said the results reflect the district’s sustained growth.
“I couldn’t be happier or any prouder of what they’ve done,” she said.
“Scores like that do not just happen by chance,” assistant superintendent Kelleigh Broussard added.
The rankings released Wednesday are part of a system that measures success at schools across Mississippi. The MDE ranks schools based on seven factors, including proficiency and growth in English language arts, math and science.
It also tracks graduation rates and how many students take advanced placement courses. It measures ACT performance and subject tests in high schoolers.
From that data, the MDE grades each school on an A through F scale. Schools that score high can earn recognition and financial awards. Schools that score low may also qualify for professional development or academic services, or reading coaches.
Statewide, 87% of schools and 91% of districts earned at least a C – the baseline goal the Board of Education set in 2016.
Governor Tate Reeves called Thursday’s data a “testament to years of effort to successfully strengthen Mississippi’s education system.”
“These results further solidify that Mississippi’s education system is on the rise, and our state is clearly delivering for Mississippi students,” Reeves said in a press release.
How did the rest of the Coast score?
Every school district on the Coast earned an A grade except for Moss Point, which earned a B.
Local high schools also earned the highest scores in the state in individual school rankings.
West Harrison High School ranked first, Ocean Springs High School was second and Long Beach High School was third.
Bayou View Elementary in Gulfport ranked 11th in the state, Lizana Elementary School in Harrison County came in 13th and Hancock North Central Elementary tied for 21st.
Here’s a closer look at each district.
Hancock County School District
Hancock County School District ranked 18th in the state. It jumped significantly from its ranking of 48th last year.
Hancock High School also tied for ninth place in the state.
Hancock North Central Elementary, East Hancock Elementary and West Hancock Elementary all earned As. Hancock Middle School and South Hancock Elementary earned Bs.
In a release, Superintendent Rhett Ladner said he is “truly humbled” by the hard work of everyone in the district. “We are truly ecstatic about the gains this year,” he said.
Bay St. Louis-Waveland School District
Bay St. Louis-Waveland schools ranked 11th in the state. Last year, the district ranked 19th.
Bay High ranked 13th in the state. Waveland and North Bay Elementaries scored As.
Bay Waveland Middle School scored a B.
Harrison County School District
Harrison County schools ranked 20th in the state. The district dropped slightly from their 14th spot ranking last year.
West Harrison High School ranked first in the state. D’Iberville High School ranked 17th in the state and Harrison Central High ranked lower but still scored an A.
Each elementary and middle school in the district scored an A or B except North Gulfport, which earned a C.
Pass Christian Public School District
Pass Christian Public schools ranked 12th in the state, a slight drop from their 9th rank last year.
Pass Christian High earned an A. Pass Christian and DeLisle elementaries earned As and Pass Christian Middle earned a B.
Long Beach School District
The district came in second in state. It was ranked first last year.
Long Beach High School came in third.
All four middle and elementary schools in the district also earned As.
Gulfport Public School District
Gulfport public schools tied for 29th in Mississippi. The district ranked 33rd last year.
Gulfport High School earned an A. All elementary and middle schools earned As or Bs except Gulfport Central Middle School, which earned a C.
Biloxi Public School District
Biloxi Public schools ranked 10th in the state. The district ranked 12th last year.
Biloxi High School earned an A. All other schools earned As except Popp’s Ferry Elementary, which earned a B.
Jackson County School District
Jackson County schools tied for 16th in the state. The district ranked 15th last year.
St. Martin High school earned an A and tied D’Iberville High for 17th. Vancleave and East Central highs ranked slightly lower but still earned As.
Each middle and elementary school in the district earned at least a B.
Ocean Springs School District
Ocean Springs schools jumped from third to first place in the state.
Ocean Springs High School ranked second in the state and every elementary and middle school earned an A.
Moss Point School District
Moss Point was the only district on the Coast to earn a B. The district improved from last year, when it earned a C.
But not all schools in the district fared the same.
Moss Point High School earned an A.
Moss Point Kreole Primary School scored C and Escatawpa Upper Elementary and Magnolia Middle School earned Ds.
Pascagoula-Gautier School District
Pascagoula-Gautier schools ranked 44th in the state. Last year, the district tied for 36th.
Gautier and Pascagoula high schools earned As this year.
Most elementary and middle schools in the district also earned As. Eastlawn Elementary and Trent Lott and Singing River Academies earned Bs. Gautier Middle School and William M Colmer Middle School earned Cs.
