NATCHEZ — Schools districts in surrounding counties saw a rise in state accountability scores similar to the Natchez-Adams School District’s increases.

The Natchez-Adams School District’s score rose from an F accountability grade in 2016 to a D this year.

Fifteen schools in Mississippi were rated  with an A, 43 received B scores, 43 received C scores, 36 were rated as D schools and nine schools received a failing grade.

Amite County and Jefferson county saw rises in their accountability score in the 2017 ranking.

Amite County School District rose from an F to a D.

Jefferson County School District raised its grade from a D in 2016 to a C in this year’s scores.

Neighboring Wilkinson County School District received an F for the second year in a row and Franklin County School District dropped from a B to a C.

The Mississippi Department of Education (MDE) introduced a new rating system for the accountability assessment and under that new scale, the number of failing districts in Mississippi would have raised to 21.

The new baseline score did not affect the scores of Amite, Franklin, Jefferson or Wilkinson counties, but the Natchez-Adams School District would have received a failing score if tthe new baseline were used.

MDE chose the highest of the two rating systems — the former scale and the scoring passed in August — as each district’s official score.

Next year, the new grading system will be the sole measure of district accountability scores.

Jefferson County School District Interim Superintendent Bertha Watts said she is pleased with the system’s growth.

“We are extremely proud of the hard work and dedication from our administrators, teachers, students and parents,” Watts said. “It is not just about performing well on state assessments, but increasing student achievement and ensuring that our boys and girls are provided a high-quality education.”