Mississippi School grades are in for 2022-2023. See the scores here

According to the Mississippi Department of Education’s 2022-2023 accountability grades, 87% of schools and 91% of districts in Mississippi earned a grade of C or higher, an improvement from the 2021-2022 school year. Several of the Jackson metro area districts received a C rating or higher.

Jackson Public School District earned a C. Rankin County Schools and Madison County Schools both received A ratings. Canton Public Schools received a C.

Many schools in Forrest and Lamar County districts, which includes schools in Hattiesburg, also earned high ratings.

Scores are calculated mainly through statewide student assessment tests called Mississippi Academic Assessment Program which test students on categories such as mathematics, English, science and U.S. History. This year, testing irregularities resulted in eight schools not receiving a letter rating. 0

Out of the 44 Jackson Public Schools listed, 16 earned an A rating, 12 earned a B, seven earned a C, five earned a D and four earned an F.

Four schools in the Jackson Public School District were not included in these scores due to testing irregularities. The four schools include Dawson Elementary School, Lester Elementary School, McLeod Elementary School and Peeples Middle School.

2023 Accountability Media File by USA TODAY Network on Scribd

Jackson Public Schools

Madison County Schools

Out of 21 Madison County Schools, 14 earned an A and seven received a B. No schools received a rating below B.

Shortly after the scores were announced, Madison County Schools Superintendent Charlotte Seals said in a press release that she is proud to say every school in her district earned an A or B rating.

“Students in every corner of Madison County are showing they are mastering lessons and are prepared for the next grade and next step on their academic journey,” the press release states. “These results are testament to the dedication and hard work of our teachers in preparing students and our administrators in making sure teachers and students in each of our schools have the tools and support they need to succeed.”

Rankin County Schools

Out of 27 Rankin County Schools reported, 17 earned an A, nine earned a B and one received a C. No schools received lower than a C rating.

In a press release sent out shortly after scores were revealed, Rankin County Schools superintendent Scott Rimes said he is proud of the positive results.

"They reflect the unwavering dedication of our students, staff, families, and valued stakeholders. In RCSD, we hold ourselves to high standards, and we remain committed to continuous growth as we prepare our students for their future," the press release states.

Canton Public School District

Out of eight Canton Public School District schools reported, two schools received an A and five received a B.

Nichols Middle School was among those which did not receive a score due to testing irregularities.

Lamar County Schools

Out of 15 Lamar County Schools, eight received an A rating, 6 received a B and 1 received a D. Overall, the district earned an A.

Hattiesburg Public Schools

Out of 8 Hattiesburg Public Schools listed, six received an A, one received a B and one received a D. Overall, the district earned an A.

Hattiesburg Public Schools superintendent Robert Williams said he is extremely proud of the students, staff and parents of the Hattiesburg community.

"Like many schools across the nation, our students and staff faced multiple challenges as we recovered from the global pandemic. Those challenges ranged from varying learning modes, increased absences and fear of the unknown. Nevertheless, our staff and students met those challenges with a positive attitude and a willingness to make every day better than yesterday, exemplifying what it truly means to be Burg Built," Superintendent Robert Williams said.

Forrest County Schools

Out of the six Forrest County Schools listed, two earned an A, three earned a B and one earned a D.

Forrest County Agricultural High School

The Forrest County Agricultural High School received an A rating, making the overall score for Forrest County Agricultural and A.

Petal Schools

Out of five Petal School District schools listed, all received an A rating. Overall, the district earned an A.

“My takeaway from our ‘A’ rating is sustained success,” Petal Superintendent Matt Dillon said on Facebook. “The ability to have consistent results year in and year out is a major indicator of a successful organization. The Petal School District continues to do just that.”

The Mississippi Department of Education was scheduled to present the grades during a monthly board meeting in the morning Thursday, Sept. 28.

Overall, the numbers have been climbing. In 2016, the Mississippi State Board of Education set a goal that all schools and districts should earn a rating of C or higher. At that time, only 62% of schools met that goal. This year, that number reached 87%.

The number of Mississippi students scoring "proficient" and "advanced" in the mathematics, English Language Arts, science and U.S. History categories of the MAAP tests reached an all-time high, said Raymond Morgigno, interim state superintendent of education.

Morgigno said in a press release the score improvements reflect the effort of Mississippi teachers and education leaders.

“This year’s school and district grades provide further evidence that Mississippi teachers, school leaders and staff have done an outstanding job helping students accelerate learning after the disruptions of the pandemic,” the press release states. “I am confident our schools will build upon those achievements so that all students are proficient and prepared for success after high school.”

Morgigno also said he is especially proud of the students in districts under state leadership. Schools are placed under state leadership due to "poor academic performance or state of emergency," Morgigno said.

“These students have proven they can achieve at higher levels when teachers and leaders raise expectations and remain singularly focused on helping to improve student outcomes," the press release states.

The Tunica County School District will leave state control and return to local control in January 2024 as it has maintained a B rating for two years in a row. Previously, the district had a four-year track record of D or F ratings.

During a press conference Wednesday, Sept. 27, Morgigno said he is proud of Mississippi for gaining momentum lost during the COVID-19 pandemic.

"This year's grades showed what a great job the teachers, school leaders, staff and parents have done in helping students overcome the disruptions of the pandemic," Morgigno said.

In 2020, the board implemented a federally funded pandemic relief program that allowed Mississippi schools to gain assets like computers, extended days, additional tutoring services and digital learning coaches. The funds will end in September 2024. After, schools will have to pay for the services themselves if they wish to continue.

Morgigno said he and the board do not anticipate any sort of downturn in the years to come.

"I don't see anyone lowering their standards," he said. "We just might have to roll up our sleeves and just work a little harder, but that's kind of what we do here in Mississippi."

Gov. Tate Reeves said Thursday afternoon he is grateful for the efforts of Mississippi teachers.

"It is because of you that the eyes of the nation have turned to our state as a model for how to effectively educate students. The Mississippi Miracle is real, and our kids are learning more than ever before. Today's announcement is further proof of this."

This article originally appeared on Mississippi Clarion Ledger: See what grades MS schools got accountability rating for 2022-2023