The local city school district is included in the state’s bottom ten districts with the lowest graduation rate and highest dropout rates.
The results were included in the Mississippi Department of Education’s 2021-22 school year graduation and dropout rates report. Although the report reflected the highest statewide graduation rate of 88.9% percent and a statewide dropout rate of nine percent, the local city school district was not considered one of those success stories, according to reports.
The local Mississippi Achievement School District was included in the state’s bottom ten districts with the lowest graduation rate. The city school district was reported to having a 77.5 percent graduation rate, the sixth lowest in the state overall.
The city school district was also among the bottom ten districts with the highest dropout rate. The local city schools have a 16.9 percent dropout rate, the eighth highest in the state overall.
The city school district was also among the bottom ten districts with the lowest graduation rate for students with disabilities. The report showed the city schools has a 31.8 percent graduation rate for students with disabilities, the fourth lowest in the state overall.
Within the Yazoo County School District, the state reported a 84.5 percent graduation rate and a 10.9 percent dropout rate.
But there are some resources to assist with intervention, including the Mississippi Early Warning System. The MDE developed this program in 2016 to offer guidance to school districts and schools to identify, support and monitor at-risk students in grades K-12. Intervention is provided for students who need assistance to reach graduation and be ready for college and career.
Pandemic disruptions have also had an impact on the graduation rate, according to the state. Due to COVID-19, the passing requirements for high school Algebra I, English II, Biology and U.S. History assessments were waived in 2020-21. This will affect the graduation rate until all students who tested under the waivers graduate.
