Neshoba Central Elementary School fourth graders, clockwise, from bottom left, Eva Claire, Micah Skipper, Paisely Willis, Weston Pike and Brooklynn Edwards, work with base 10 manipulatives during math. The Neshoba County School District ranked fourth in the state for the 2022-2023 school year, results from the Mississippi Academic Assessment Program showed.
By Debbie Burt Myers
For the second consecutive year, the Neshoba County School District has earned an “A” accountability rating for the 2022-2023 school year, the Mississippi State Board of Education announced on Thursday.
The county school district ranked number four out of the state’s 137 districts and finished as the top performing district in East Central Mississippi.
The district’s 766 accountability score from the Mississippi Academic Assessment Program was the highest in its long and rich history. It was 39 points higher than the previous year.
Neshoba elementary, middle and high schools all rated “A” collectively for the first time ever.
The state’s “A” to “F” accountability grades rely heavily on the amount of progress students make from one year to the next.
“We truly are ‘One Community, One Mission, One Neshoba,’” Dr. Penny Sistrunk, assistant superintendent of education, said. “The dedication for excellence from our staff, students, parents, and community is the reason we’re an A district.”
The school district increased proficiency and growth in six out of eight categories. It also increased its graduation rate and college and career readiness.
Neshoba Central Elementary Principal Tiffany Plott was at a loss of words for her school’s progress.
“Words can't even begin to describe how proud I am of our teachers and students,” she said. “NCES has achieved the highest accountability rating in school history.”
Plott said it was “a true testament to the dedication of our staff and to the support from our parents and community. Our entire community working together for the success of our students contributes to our school's superior accountability ranking.”
Excellence is never an accident, she said.
“It comes from hard work, intention and sincere effort. I feel blessed each day to be a part of this school district and community. Our school is such a happy place! My goal is for students to feel supported, loved and prepared for their futures.”
Neshoba Elementary School had the highest accountability in school and district history at 511 points. The school increased growth and proficiency in all areas (English/Language Arts, Math and Science).
Other achievements included:
Third-grade reading was top five in the state.
Fifth-grade science was in the top 10 in the state.
Kindergarten had the highest kindergarten readiness score in the state for seven years in a row.
Jacob Drury, Neshoba Central Middle School principal, was equally excited about his students’ performance.
"The faculty, staff, and students once again demonstrated why we are one of the premier middle schools in the entire state of Mississippi,” he said. “The support and commitment of our parents and community have allowed us to achieve this."
Neshoba Middle School ranked number seven in middle schools across the state.
The school scored 500 points, an achievement seen by only five middle schools across the state during the 2021-2022 year. The point achievement was the highest in the history of Neshoba Middle School.
Other achievements included:
Sixth-grade math scored eighth highest in the state in proficiency.
Seventh-grade math was third highest in proficiency.
Eighth-grade math was second highest in proficiency.
Overall math was third highest in proficiency.
Overall math was first in the state in middle school math growth.
Math had 99.7 of the possible 100 growth points, which means, basically, every student grew in math at Neshoba Middle School.
Seventh-grade ELA was fifth in proficiency in the state.
Eighth-grade science was eighth in proficiency.
Sixth and eighth-grade ELA both finished top 20 in proficiency in the state.
Neshoba Central High School had its highest accountability rating in school history with 781 points. The graduation rate was 92.3 percent.
“Six years ago, the administration set a goal to be an ‘A’ rated high school, and due to the hard work put forth by our students and teachers, Neshoba Central High School has achieved its first ever ‘A’ rating,” said principal Jason Gentry.
“To say I am proud of our success is an understatement. This accomplishment embodies our motto: ‘One Community, One Mission, One Neshoba.’ I want to say ‘Thank You’ to all those who had a part to play in this achievement; now, more than ever we must work together to hold this rating and strive towards higher levels of excellence.”
Among other high school achievements:
Improvement of 98 points across the accountability model from 2021/2022 to 2022/2023.
Growth in Algebra I at NCHS includes an increase of 9 points in growth of all algebra students to 94 percent and also, growth of the bottom 25 percent of Algebra I students by 32.5 points to 105.3 percent.
Increase in proficiency level in English II by 9.6 points to 50.2 percent.
Increase in growth of all English II students by 18.7 points to 66.9 percent and growth of the bottom 25 percent of English II students by 19.5 points to 52.2 percent.
The school’s Acceleration component, which measures its Dual Credit College and Advanced Placement courses, along with its National Industry certifications maintained at 85 percent.
The school’s College and Career Readiness Component grew 11 points from 56 percent to 67 percent. This is an indicator that includes ACT and WorkKeys National Benchmark levels, Gentry said.
Neshoba Central High School rated a high “B” during the previous school year.
“What an amazing day for the Neshoba County School District. We’re extremely proud of where we are as a district and even more excited about what the future holds for the NCSD,” said Superintendent Josh Perkins.
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.