The good news: F.B. Woodley Elementary School, part of the Hattiesburg Public School District, received an accountability grade of B in the 2017-18 unofficial statewide accountability ratings, released last week by the Mississippi Department of Education.
The not-so-good news: Hattiesburg High School received an F grade – with 501 points out of a possible 1,000 – down from last year’s C rating and a D rating the year before that.
Superintendent Robert Williams said the elementary school was last rated a B in the 2015-16 school year, and the school has improved from last year’s C rating under the leadership of principal Felicia Morris.
“We are also pleased to have more Hattiesburg Public School District students proficient than the previous year,” he said. “As a district, we increased proficiency in math, reading and science.”
In addition to Woodley Elementary School – which improved 72 points over last year’s score – several of the district’s other schools also showed significant improvement from last year’s accountability scores, including Grace Christian Elementary School (64 point increase), Hawkins Elementary School (20 point increase), and Rowan Elementary School (44 percent increase).
Officials have put into place several measures to improve the high school’s F grade, including staffing the classrooms with highly-qualified teachers, especially in the Mississippi Academic Assessment Program and the Subject Area Testing Program-tested subjects. Officials also have implemented increased curriculum and instructional supports.
“Our teachers are providing students with more purposeful feedback, increasing instructional rigor and strengthening literacy efforts to increase comprehension, writing and reading maturity,” Williams said. “We are also improving the climate and culture of our schools to create a more positive environment for all students.”
Williams said a key component of moving Hattiesburg High School forward is ensuring that officials from are sending more academically-proficient students from all grades into the ninth grade.
“We are headed in the right direction, as reflected in our proficiency data increases across the district in all subjects,” he said. “This year, we launched a Middle College Program with 11 students through a partnership with Pearl River Community College.
“The Middle College Program will give students the opportunity to complete their high school career with a diploma and associate’s degree.”
District officials will focus on four strategies going forward: aligning curriculum, instruction, assessments and professional development throughout the district; promoting early learning and literacy; strengthening pathways to college and career opportunities; and sustaining the staff and bolstering recruitment efforts.
“As a district, we are working continuously to improve student performance and the culture of our schools,” Williams said. “Our plan includes an intentional focus on programming for academic success and supporting teachers as they provide quality teaching and learning experiences for students. We know that sustainable change takes time.”
