The Leflore County School District says its test scores “did not meet expectations.”
But just how bad the results are won’t be publicly known for a couple more weeks.
Schools get an early look at their results from the state MCT2 exams, which students in grades 3 through 8 took last May.
The Leflore County district sent out a press release late Friday afternoon that said, in part, “Based on the results from the state-mandated test, the Leflore County School District test scores did not meet expectations, but administrators have put together a plan of action to increase the district’s performance.”
That plan includes new curriculum specialists who observe teachers and give feedback to principals about whether students are mastering skills. The district is also taking monthly practice tests, and principals are now required to spend at least 60 percent of their time in the classroom.
The county’s test results contrast with what the city schools say they’ve received.
Greenwood Superintendent Margie Pulley said at a school board meeting last week that she’s “pleased” with the Greenwood district’s test results and doesn’t expect a change in its rating.
Both the Greenwood and Leflore County districts were rated “Successful” last year. That’s the third-highest ranking on the state’s former seven-level scale that ranged from “Star School” to “Failing.”
However, the state Legislature passed a law this year that simplifies the system to give schools a rating of A, B, C, D or F. That change will be in place for the upcoming ratings.
Lt. Gov. Tate Reeves, a proponent of the new rating system, recently predicted that about half of the schools labeled “Successful” will receive a grade of “B” and half will receive a “C.”
Leflore County Superintendent Viola Williams McCaskill could not be reached on her cellphone Friday afternoon or Saturday.
However, she did appear to have been aware of the calls.
Someone called back Saturday — caller ID identified it as coming from McCaskill’s cellphone number — but hung up immediately when the phone was answered at the Commonwealth.
A few minutes later, a woman called back from a different number who said she was working at the school office and heard McCaskill’s phone ring.
The woman identified herself as Maxine Greenleaf, who was recently hired as the district’s public relations director.
The woman said the district’s results were down in “pretty much all the areas,” including reading, math and language arts. She said they’d be released to the public in mid-September.
Williams took over in January — halfway through the school year — after defeating one-term incumbent Jean Hall in the November election.
She’s already received public criticism for recommending a property tax increase to the school board after promising on the campaign trail that she would not raise taxes.
• Contact Charlie Smith at 581-7235 or csmith@gwcommonwealth.com.
