With the official 2017-2018 state report being released, the Yazoo City Municipal School District has returned to being a failing district.
“What do we do to go from here,” asked Dr. Georgia Ingram, interim superintendent, during the Board of Mayor and Aldermen board meeting.
The district’s math assessment shows that 14.4 percent of students are proficient; 12.2 percent in English; 50.6 percent in science; and 25 percent in history.
The district has a graduation rate of 66.7 percent with 72.1 percent showing in acceleration and 5.6 percent in college and career readiness.
For each school individually, Webster Elementary School, McCoy Elementary School and Woolfolk Middle School are failing. Yazoo City High School scored a D.
For teacher data, the district gas 51.1 percent of experienced teachers with 31.8 percent of provisional teachers at 72 percent in-field teachers.
Ingram said the high school was seven points away from becoming a C-level school.
“We had 20 children who made significant growth upon the test, but their scores did not count,” she said. “The reason why is because in our high school if you are in English I you are considered a ninth grader. You could be a graduating twelfth grader, but if you are in English 1 you are still considered a ninth grader.”
Ingram said she made an appeal to the Mississippi Department of Education, but the 20 students were still not counted with the overall report.
Ingram said the district will also provide a presentation to the state to highlight strengths, gaps and goals to move forward.
One areas of improvement include the addition of two assistant principals at McCoy, which had only principal in the past with 800 students. The addition of two assistant principals will allow more manpower to address instruction and discipline more efficiently, Ingram said.
Ingram said goals are being set with every principal within the district, and mentoring program for first-year teachers has also been established. With a high turnover rate, she said they intend to train people who will remain in the community.
“Having people from home who know the children and the type of community we have here, you are more apt to build relationships with them,” Ingram said. “You do for people that you respect.”
Ingram would like to see more parental involvement. A district-wide workshop was recently held with only four parents in attendance.
“They are a part of our school district, and they do have a voice,” she said, pushing for more involvement.
Ward 4 Alderman Aubry Brent Jr. said the important thing is for Ingram to maintain her course. He said he understands the pressures that comes with her position, but he has faith that she will be successful.
“There is no way our children are going to progress unless the teacher knows his or her subject matter,” he said. “They need inspiration. We had a lot of pride way back in the 60s. We were not tested like kids are tested today. Out of all your consultants that we are spending all this money on, let’s remember if you have competent teachers in that classroom, get these teachers certified, then our district will slowly past this F category.”
