September 29, 2023
Dear Parents/Guardians of the Neshoba County School District,
I write to extend a much-deserved CONGRATULATIONS on the outstanding achievement of the Neshoba County School District. Due to the hard work and dedication of our exceptional students, talented educators, and supportive community members, the district has earned an “A” rating for the second consecutive school year, and for the first time ever, all three Neshoba County Schools have received an “A” rating!
This remarkable achievement is a testament to the unwavering commitment to excellence that extends into every corner of our school community. Along with the faculty and staff, you have helped create an environment where our students thrive intellectually, emotionally, and physically. We believe this success is a shared victory, and we are immensely grateful for your continued support and partnership.
As we celebrate this significant accomplishment, we also want to take a moment to discuss an important matter that impacts our students and our district’s future - student attendance. School attendance is vitally important because it plays a crucial role in a student’s academic success and personal development. Regular attendance ensures students have consistent access to educational content, opportunities to engage with teachers and peers, and a structured learning environment. It also helps our students build discipline, time management skills, and a sense of responsibility.
We believe the Neshoba County School District has the potential to achieve even greater heights, and reducing chronic absenteeism is a key factor in reaching this goal. Despite our high ranking, the NCSD has experienced an uncharacteristically high chronic absenteeism rate over the past three years. Our goal moving forward in the district is not just to maintain our #4 ranking but to strive for continued excellence and reach the coveted position of being the #1 rated school district in the state. Your support in helping to reduce the attendance deficit will increase our chances of fulfilling our goal of being Mississippi’s top performing district.
Students being present during the school day is not only crucial for their individual growth but also for our district’s financial stability. The approaching months of October and November are high attendance months across Mississippi and are used to calculate Average Daily Attendance (ADA). State funding for the Neshoba County School District is based largely on our ADA, and every student absence (not present for 63% of the instructional day) during October and November, no matter the reason, reduces the funding amount we receive for the next fiscal year.
Our goal is 95% student attendance for the 35 school days in October and November.
We understand occasional absences are inevitable due to illness or other unavoidable circumstances. However, we kindly request your support in ensuring your child attends school regularly and arrives on time. Every day of instruction is an opportunity for your child to learn and grow, and it directly impacts our ability to provide quality education and needed resources.
Once again, congratulations to each member of our school community for contributing to the “A” rating of our schools and district. Let us continue to work together to maintain and build upon this achievement so that we ensure our students receive the best education possible.
Thank you for your support and dedication to the Neshoba County School District. If you have any questions or need assistance in any way, please do not hesitate to contact us.
Go Rockets!
Sincerely,
Josh Perkins, Superintendent