The state department of education has released the 2022-2023 accountability grades with Yazoo County School District receiving a grade of “C” and the Yazoo City schools remaining a failing school district.
Out of 146 school districts statewide, the Yazoo County School District ranked 118th in the state with a C rating. Yazoo City schools, which are part of the Mississippi Achievement School District following a state takeover in 2019, ranked 142nd in the state with a F rating.
A breakdown of proficiency within the local school districts include:
• Yazoo County; 31.1 percent proficiency in reading; 30.7 percent proficiency in math; 60.7 percent proficiency in history; and 41.8 percent proficiency in science.
• Yazoo City; 11.2 percent proficiency in reading; 11.9 percent proficiency in math; 36.9 percent proficiency in history; and 11.2 percent proficiency in science.
Within the Yazoo County School District, the state reports an 84.5 percent graduation rate with Yazoo City scoring 77.5 percent.
According to the Mississippi Department of Education, Yazoo City ranked in the bottom ten districts within the state with the lowest graduation rate. Of the bottom ten districts within the state, Yazoo City ranked sixth.
Also, according to the state, Yazoo City ranked in the bottom ten districts within the state with the highest drop-out rate at 16.9 percent. Of the bottom ten districts, Yazoo City ranked eighth.
Those same state results also show Yazoo City in the bottom ten districts within the state for the lowest graduation rate for students with disabilities at 31.8 percent. Of the bottom ten districts, Yazoo City ranked fourth.
Despite the failing rank, the state praised the progress of schools within its state leadership takeover. According to a state press release, “the majority of these districts have made steady improvements since their state takeover.”
Of those schools within state leadership, a breakdown, which includes Yazoo City, was reported as:
Tunica County School District: Maintained a B for the second consecutive year. The district achieved a C in 2018, improving upon a four-year track record of D and F grades. The district will return to local control in January 2024.
Noxubee County School District: Achieved a C, improving upon its D rating in 2022 and emerging from its pattern of earning an F every year since 2016.
Holmes County School District: Maintained a C for the second consecutive year, improving from an F in 2019.
Achievement School District (ASD): The Humphreys County portion of the ASD improved its grade from an F to a D; the Yazoo City portion remained an F.
“I am especially proud of the students in our districts under state leadership,” said Dr. Raymond Morgigno, interim state superintendent of education. “These students have proven they can achieve at higher levels when teachers and leaders raise expectations and remain singularly focused on helping to improve student outcomes.”
A state law enacted in 2016 requires the State Board of Education to intervene in persistently failing school districts by placing the districts in a state-run Achievement School District (ASD). Districts that are rated “F” for two consecutive years or two out of three consecutive years, encompass 50 percent or more F-rated schools and/or have 50 percent or more of their students attending F-rated schools are subject to inclusion in the ASD.
The Yazoo City School District was included in the ASD creation in 2019. The SBE selected Humphreys and Yazoo City to form the first ASD because, together, they have the largest number of students enrolled in F-rated schools and they were located in the same region.
There has been heavy criticism among some within the community with the Yazoo City schools lacking local leadership. However, state law requires that districts absorbed by the ASD maintain a “C” rating for five years to become eligible to revert back to local governance.
The Yazoo City schools have not reached a “C” rating since the state takeover in 2019.
