The Mississippi Department of Education released its 2019-2020 accountability scores to statewide media Monday afternoon, and Carroll County Superintendent Billy Joe Ferguson was right. At the district’s regular board meeting, he predicted the district would receive a D rating.
Overall, the Carroll County School District received 493 points. The district’s overall reading proficency was 26.6 percent, math was 27 percent, history was 37.8 percent, science was 60.8 percent, reading growth 49.1, reading low growth was 53.9, math low growth was 48.9, the district’s acceleration rate is 67.5, college and career readiness is 22.2 and the district’s graduation rate is 73.5.
Individually, Marshall Elementary received 305 points, the school’s reading was 29.5, math was 30, science was 64.1, reading growth was 48.5, math growth was 35, reading low growth was 56.7 and math low growth was 41.5.
J.Z. George received 498 points, the school’s reading was 24.3, math was a 24.7, history was 37.8, science was 59.1, reading growth 49.5, math growth 44.8, reading low growth was 60.8, math low growth was 53.3, accerleration was 67.5, college and career readiness was 22.2 and the graduation rate was 73.5.
Ferguson said the announcement of the superintendent search, battling absenteeism from teachers and students, the resignation of an assistant principal at the high school, and the public learning the elementary school teacher wouldn’t return in the middle of the spring semester left a negative impact.
He said with everything that happened, almost like a domino effect, students and teachers still
“It could have been worse, we could have been an F,” Ferguson said during the meeting.
Ferguson said that after receiving the scores he was pleased with the effort given by all but not satisfied with where the district scored. He said there were several things that played a factor into the score, and for students and teachers to overcome them all, he’s okay with knowing they gave it their all.
“I’m encouraged by some of the things I saw, and we’re going to score better next year, we have to,” he said. “We’ve made some changes and have some new people in place, and I think they’re going to do a good job.”
Ferguson said he gives his staff an A for perservering through everything and for finishing. He said it may not be where they wanted to finish, but they did see growth in some areas and now know what areas need work.
