For the third consecutive year, the Neshoba County School District earned an “A” accountability rating from the Mississippi State Board of Education.

The board’s announcement on Tuesday reflected the district’s “exceptional performance” during the 2023-2024 school year, school officials said.

Superintendent of Education Josh Perkins praised the achievement, noting the district “continues to demonstrate its unwavering commitment to academic excellence and student success.”

 There were notable accomplishments across all grade levels, he said.

Mississippi’s annual school grading system evaluates schools and districts on an A-F scale, considering several critical indicators including state test performance, student growth, graduation rates and progress for English learners and the lowest-achieving students.

This accountability system, mandated by federal and state legislation, aims to ensure all students receive equitable access to high-quality education.

District-Wide Achievements

The Neshoba County School District earned the second highest accountability point total (743) in its history and has been rated an “A” district for only the third time in history. For the 2023-2024 school year, the district is ranked Number 14 out of 148 districts across the state and excels in several key areas:

Proficiency: Ranked in the Top 15 districts statewide in 11 of the 18 assessed categories.

Math Proficiency: Number three district in the state for math proficiency.

Math Growth: Number two district in the state for overall math growth.

Graduation Rate: Achieved a 93.9 percent graduation rate.

Neshoba Central Elementary School

The elementary school once again achieved an “A” rating, earning an impressive 487 points, the second highest accountability point total in the school's history. Notable highlights include:

Unmatched Reading Proficiency: 90 percent of students passed the third-grade reading assessment on their first attempt, the highest percentage in the school’s history.

Top State Rankings: Ranked in the Top 15 in the state in five of the seven assessed areas.

Consistent Excellence: Maintained an “A” rating for eight consecutive years.

Elementary Principal Tiffany Plott expressed immense pride.

“I couldn’t be more proud of my faculty, staff, and students,” she said. “Maintaining our status as an ‘A’ school for eight straight years highlights our unwavering commitment to educational excellence. Together, we are setting a high standard for our school community and building a legacy of success for the future of the students in Neshoba County.”

Neshoba Central Middle School

The middle school has achieved an “A” rating with a record-breaking 501 points, marking the highest accountability point total in the school's history. Key achievements include:

Academic Excellence: Highest proficiency percentages in Math, English Language Arts (ELA), and Science.

Remarkable Math Growth: 99.5 percent total growth in math, the second highest in the state.

Top Performers: Ranked in the top three for math proficiency across all grades and in the top 10 in the state in six of the seven assessed areas.

Sustained Excellence: Maintained an “A” rating for three consecutive years and ranked number 7 among middle schools statewide.

 “These remarkable achievements are a testament to the unwavering dedication of our teachers, students, and staff,” Jacob Drury, middle school principal, said.

“Securing the highest accountability point total in our school's history, coupled with record-breaking proficiency in math, ELA, and science, highlights our relentless commitment to excellence,” he said.

“With top 10 placements in six of the seven assessed areas, we continue to raise the bar for academic success. For three consecutive years, we have proudly upheld our 'A' rating, demonstrating that with hard work, focus, and determination, anything is possible. These results reinforce that our pursuit of excellence has never been stronger.”

Neshoba Central High School

The high school earned a “B” rating with 700 points, marking the second highest accountability point total in the school’s history. Noted accomplishments include:

Graduation Success: Achieved the highest graduation rate in school history at 93.9 percent.

Exceptional History Scores: Attained the highest scores in U.S. History with a proficiency of 83.5 percent.

Commitment to Improvement: Continues to focus on enhancing academic performance across all subjects.

 “I am extremely proud of the hard work and effort that has been put forth by our students and staff at NCHS,” Jason Gentry, NCHS principal, said.

 “While we are excited by the improvements in our graduation rate and U.S. history scores, we want to continue to pursue significant growth in all academic areas. It is our goal each year to be an ‘A’ rated school and we will continue to set high expectations for our students and staff to attain those goals.”

In addition to the success reflected in the accountability model, the district also performed exceptionally well in other areas:

Strong Performance in Early Childhood Education: The district’s pre-kindergarten programs stood out, with 87.9 percent of pre-K students performing at or above the target score, significantly above the state average of 67.1 percent.

Outstanding Kindergarten Readiness: Ranked number two in the state on the Kindergarten Readiness Assessment, highlighting the district’s effectiveness in preparing young learners for academic success.

Holistic Development: The district prioritizes not just academic achievement but also the overall development of students, including social-emotional learning and extracurricular engagement.

These accomplishments underscore the district’s dedication to providing an exceptional education to all students and reinforcing its commitment to continuous improvement, Perkins said.

 “Our district’s continued success and ‘A’ rating are a direct result of the dedication, hard work and collaboration among our educators, students, and families,” he said.

“It is rewarding to see our commitment to providing a top-notch education reflected in these outstanding accountability ratings. We remain steadfast in our mission to foster an environment where every student can develop intellectually, emotionally, and physically. As we celebrate these achievements, we also look forward to building on this success and striving for even greater heights in the future.”

For more information about the Neshoba County School District’s programs and achievements, visit www.neshobacentral.com or follow the district on Facebook.