NATCHEZ — The Natchez-Adams School District improved its ranking on statewide accountability scores released Thursday, moving from an F last year to a D for 2017.

The overall score for the district rose from a 457 to a 481 on a 1,000-point scale.

Despite the improvement, the scores place the school district in the bottom quarter of the state’s school districts — No. 129 out of 146 school districts.

In August after the 2017 tests were administered, the Mississippi Department of Education (MDE) changed how baseline grades would be scored.

This year MDE reported two scores — using the old baseline grading system and the new baseline grading system — and chose the higher of the two scores for the official grade.

Using the new baseline scoring system, the Natchez-Adams School District scored an F. Because the school district received a D using the old baseline grading system, the district was given an official grade of D.

“The concern of administrators around the state was, you created an assessment, you gave us cut scores, and those were the cut scores we were working under,” Deputy Superintendent Zandra McDonald said. “The month before accountability ratings were to come out, you decide to change the scale.”

The new baseline will be the only grade given in the 2017-2018 scores.

Superintendent Fred Butcher said his goal was for a C grade or higher this year.

“We’re not pleased the results,” Butcher said. “Our goal was to have a C at the end of this testing period. But we are pleased with some of the individual school results.”

Scores for several individual schools in the district improved, such as the Natchez Freshman Academy, Natchez High School, the Natchez Early College Program and McLaurin Elementary School.

Natchez High School, Natchez Freshman Academy and Susie B. West Elementary School rose from an F letter grade to a C.

McLaurin Elementary School rose from a C to a B grade, with an approximate score increase of 64 points.

Joseph L. Frazier Elementary and Robert Lewis Magnet School retained their score of a D.

Morgantown College Prep Academy and Morgantown Arts Academy retained a failing grade.

Though Natchez Early College Academy retained a B rating, it’s score show marked improvement.

“We are very happy with those schools that improved,” Butcher said. “We know the schools that did not improve, they are still progressing.”

Mayor Darryl Grennell said rising school scores help make Natchez more marketable to potential business owners.

“To me, that’s an indicator that things are improving,” Grennell said. “A D is not great, but it’s better than an F. I hope we achieve an A school in the next few years. I’m optimistic.”

Ward 1 Alderwoman Joyce Arceneaux-Mathis said the rise in scores is cause for celebration.

“I think the first thing we need to do is celebrate our students and let them know how important they are,” Arceneaux-Mathis said. “The efforts of these educators, young people and administrators is to be celebrated.”

Arceneaux-Mathis said she believes a higher accountability grade will go a long way towards motivating students.

Ward 6 Alderman Dan Dillard said the rise is a slight but notable improvement.

“The community at large sees it as our schools and our district going in the right direction,” Dillard said. “It’s not a monumental move, but it’s an improvement.”

District 4 County Supervisor Ricky Gray said he is particularly excited about the high school climbing two slots up to a C grade.

“Taking this school from an F to a C — I’m really proud of that,” Gray said. “Any time you improve on anything it’s good, but I don’t think they’ll be satisfied.”

Butcher said the improvements in individual schools and across the district was in part the result of a strategic effort from district administration and teachers.

“When we came on board, we noticed three big problems,” Butcher said.

Butcher listed a low morale in the district, discipline issues and a disconnect between grades as areas district leaders have worked to improve.

“We are constantly in the schools so we can build a relationships with our administrators and students,” Butcher said. “We make sure we’re building out positive relationships.

Butcher said the morale is raised when the students, teachers and parents see the administrators are present and supportive.

McDonald said their involvement also helps in “making a transition from school managers to instructional leaders.”

McDonald said professional development  with teachers and a special attention to data also helped raise the scores.

“What better way to have content specialists going into the classrooms to work with teachers to make sure those challenge areas are addressed?” McDonald said. “We assembled a team of administrators who had instructional knowledge and background to get in there and support the work of those teachers.”

Butcher said as his office continues to address those problems, the scores will continue to improve.

“We are the first to admit that we have a few schools we’ve been struggling with,” Butcher said. “We hope that next year when we sit down and have this conversation, all of our schools will be a C or better schools.”