Marshall County, Mississippi – As the Mississippi Department of Education (MDE) prepares to release school and district accountability ratings later this year, Marshall County Schools want parents and community members to understand an important change: Mississippi has raised the standards used to determine school and district letter grades.

Beginning with the 2025-2026 accountability ratings, schools and districts across Mississippi will be evaluated using a more rigorous grading scale. This change was required after the state’s schools demonstrated significant academic improvement over the past several years. The assessments students take have not changed. Instead, the expectations for earning an A, B, C, D, or F have become more demanding.

What Does This Mean for Marshall County Schools?

Because the standards are higher, schools and districts across Mississippi—including Marshall County Schools—could receive a different letter grade than in previous years even if student achievement has remained steady or improved.

A lower letter grade does not automatically mean our students are learning less or that our schools are performing worse. It may simply reflect the higher expectations established by the State Board of Education.

The 2025-2026 accountability ratings represent a new starting point for measuring future growth. For this reason, MDE advises that previous years’ letter grades should not be directly compared to this year’s ratings.

Looking Beyond the Letter Grade

Marshall County Schools encourages families to look at the complete picture of student success.

When reviewing accountability information, we encourage parents to consider:

Student academic growth from year to year
Student proficiency in English Language Arts, mathematics, and science • Graduation rates
College and Career Readiness
Student opportunities for acceleration and advanced coursework • Overall progress our students continue to make

These measures provide a much clearer understanding of how our schools are serving students than a single letter grade alone.

A Simple Example

Think about making an 88 on a classroom test.

Last year, an 88 may have earned a B. If the teacher changes the grading scale, that same score could now earn a C. The student’s performance didn’t decline—the expectations became more challenging.

That is similar to what is happening with Mississippi’s accountability system.

Marshall County Schools Continues to Move Forward

Marshall County Schools has made meaningful progress in recent years through the dedication of our students, employees, families, and community partners. Under the previous accountability model, our district earned its first-ever “B” accountability rating and has focused on strengthening instruction in every classroom, increasing student achievement, improving graduation rates, raising attendance, and reducing discipline incidents. These accomplishments reflect the hard work taking place across our schools every day. While the state’s accountability standards have become more rigorous, our commitment to continuous improvement remains unchanged. We will continue to focus on providing high-quality instruction, supporting every student, and preparing graduates for success in college, careers, the military, and life. As we move forward under Mississippi’s new accountability system, our goal is not simply to earn a letter grade, but to ensure every student has the knowledge, skills, and opportunities needed to reach their full potential.

Our Commitment to Students

Marshall County Schools remains focused on providing every student with a high-quality education that prepares them for success after graduation.

While accountability ratings are one measure of school performance, they do not define the daily work taking place in our classrooms. Our teachers, administrators, and staff remain committed to helping every student grow academically, socially, and emotionally.

We appreciate the continued partnership of our families and community as we work together to ensure every child has the opportunity to succeed.

As accountability information becomes available, Marshall County Schools will continue to communicate openly with our families and explain what the results mean for our district and our schools.

For additional information about Mississippi’s updated accountability system, visit the Mississippi Department of Education’s Raising the Bar webpage at: https://mdek12.org/communications/raising-the-bar-understanding-mississippis-higher accountability-standards/

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