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Statewide school and district accountability scores released last week show that four out of five area school districts scored a C and one district, Wilkinson County, scored an F.

To help stakeholders make decisions regarding areas of improvement and needs within the state education system, the Mississippi Statewide Accountability System assigns a performance rating of A, B, C, D, and F for each school and district.

These scores are based on established criteria regarding student achievement, individual student growth, graduation rate and participation rate.

Statewide assessments are used to measure proficiency and growth in proficiency for students in grades 3 through 8 and high school students taking end-of-course subject area assessments in Algebra I, English II, Biology, and U.S. History.

The data also shows that four out of five school districts underperformed their 2023 score.

Amite, Jefferson and Franklin counties each fell from B to C districts and Wilkinson County fell from a C district to an F. Natchez-Adams School District maintained its C status and slightly improved over the 2023 score. The district also had the third highest cost per student expense of the five districts in the 2022-2023 school year, according to MDE.

Natchez Adams School District’s average per-pupil expenditures in the 2022-2023 school year, according to MDE, is $14,279.46. Comparatively, Amite County spends the most per student with an average per pupil cost of $16,823.15 followed by Jefferson County with an average per pupil cost of $14,499.05.

Below is a closer look at the five area school districts in Adams, Amite, Jefferson, Franklin and Wilkinson counties; their average cost per student and how they are performing according to state accountability standards released by MDE.

Systems that have improved scores from 2023 are marked with “>” and systems that underperformed the 2023 score are marked with “<.”

Natchez Adams School District 590 C; 2023 score 584 C >

•  Natchez High School 628 C; 2023 score 703 B <
•  Natchez Middle School 309 D; 2023 score 280 D >
• Morgantown Elementary 396 B; 2023 score 394 B >
• McLaurin Elementary 384 B; 2023 score 394 B <
• Susie B West Elementary 335 C; 2023 score 402 B <

2023 Per pupil expense $14,279.46

Franklin County School District 589 C; 2023 score 660 B <

• Franklin County High School 718 B; 2023 score 778 A <
• Franklin County Middle School 330 C; 2023 score 387 B <
• Franklin Upper Elementary 277 D; 2023 score 355 C <
• Franklin Lower Elementary 323 D; 2023 score 420 B <

2023 Per pupil expense $12,736.90

Wilkinson County School District 478 F; 2023 score 552 C <

• Wilkinson County High School 575 D; 2023 score 650 * <
• William Winans Middle School 229 F; 2023 score 300 D <
• Wilkinson County Elementary 244 F; 2023 score 384 B <

2023 Per pupil expense $12,483.85

Jefferson County School District 557 C; 2023 score 647 B <

• Jefferson County High School 642 C; 2023 score 757 A <
• Jefferson County Middle School 248 F; 2023 score (JC Junior High*) 362 C <
• Jefferson County Elementary School 406 B; 2023 score 496 A <

2023 Per pupil expense $14,499.05

Amite County School District 594 C; 2023 score 619 B <

• Amite County High School 685 B; 2023 score 727 B <
• Amite County Middle School 388 B; 2023 score 350 C >
• Amite County Elementary 369 C; 2023 score 400 B <

2023 Per pupil expense $16,823.15