They said they would do it, and they did. And now it’s up to us to help fuel future success for Natchez-Adams Schools.

Teachers, administrators and students were proud last week to announce that three of the four local schools eligible for state rankings went up a level, while Robert Lewis Middle School’s ranking was lowered. That means Natchez’s elementary and high schools are labled &uot;academically successful&uot; by the state.

The news is good not only for the school officials and students who worked hard to achieve success but also for our community, which is often measured quickly by outsiders by the one-digit numbers each school achieves.

Teachers and administrators, who are led by third-year superintendent Dr. Anthony Morris, promised they would bring the school levels up, and they have done it even earlier than they thought they would.

But the move from Level 3 &045; which is where Natchez High School and Morgantown and McLaurin elementary schools sit now &045; to Level 4 is much harder, and the schools now need our help.

Morris suggests these simple things: Talk positively about the schools. Participate with district officials in programs like Partners in Education. And visit the schools.

Already we have many businesses and individuals who are helping the schools, whether they are volunteer tutors, the more than 100 Partnters in Education or civic groups like the Rotary Club, which just donated dictionaries to the school system.

But more people must become involved to continue the schools’ improvements. We all &045; whether we have children in the school system or not &045; must recognize that their success is ours as well.