Superintendents of the East and West Tallahatchie school districts issued statements Tuesday expressing optimism after the release of districtwide and school-by-school accountability grades for the 2022-23 school year.
The Mississippi Statewide Accountability System uses letter grades of A to F to reflect how well school districts and individual elementary and middle schools as well as high schools are performing based on standardized federal and state criterion.
Grades are based on student achievement and student growth on standardized state tests, the graduation rate, student participation in testing and other measures.
A report made public Sept. 28 by the Mississippi Department of Education showed that West Tallahatchie as a district had improved from an overall grade of D in 2022 to a C in 2023. Bearden Elementary held steady at a D while West Tallahatchie High School improved from D to C.
“I am proud to say to each and every student, adult and parent, we have experienced success in achieving a letter grade of C,” said WTSD Superintendent Dr. Sherry Ellington. “However, this is only the beginning, because we must not let this stop us from reaching the ultimate goal of an A.
Dr. Sherry Ellington
“Yes, we have made some transformations,” Ellington continued, “but at the same time we must continue to make strides in providing and implementing strategies to improve teaching, thinking and learning. In closing, we are moving on up!”
In East Tallahatchie, the district as a whole was graded F, down from a D one year ago. Charleston Elementary remained at D, Charleston Middle fell from D to F and Charleston High improved two letter grades from D in 2022 to B in 2023.
ETSD Superintendent Raymond Russell said, “Our current rating of F is a setback, but we are confident that it does not reflect our long-term capabilities. We are taking immediate action to address the issues and are concerned about the decline from the previous rating of D.
“The decline was due to several factors, such as disruptions in traditional learning environments and decreased student engagement,” Russell continued. “However, we are optimistic that we can overcome this situation with the right strategies. On a positive note, our high school has shown remarkable progress, moving from a D to a B rating. We are proud of this achievement and will work to maintain and build upon this success.”
Russell said the district is “prioritizing the following critical aspects” to improve:
Raymond Russell
» “Curriculum and Instruction: Our teachers will receive professional development opportunities to implement innovative teaching methods that align with state standards and promote practical, student-centered learning.
» “Student Well-Being: We are investing in counseling services to create a supportive and inclusive school environment.
» “Parent and Community Engagement: We plan to increase communication and involvement through regular meetings and outreach efforts.
» “Data-Driven Decision-Making: We will monitor student performance data to identify areas of weakness and implement targeted interventions to address them.
» “Educator Attraction and Retention: We are working on initiatives to attract and retain talented teachers dedicated to our students’ success.
» “In conclusion, we are committed to improving the East Tallahatchie School District. With these measures and the support of our staff, students, parents, and the community, we are confident that we will see positive changes in our accountability ratings.”
