EDUCATION: JACKSON DISTRICT GRADES HIGH ON REPORT

JACKSON, Mo. -- Jackson School District officials gave themselves high marks for improved attendance, soaring achievement on state assessments and good use of financial resources during the 1999-2000 school year.

The Board of Education accepted the report card, an annual accounting of financial, testing and other records from the previous school year, during a meeting Tuesday night. The reports are required by law and must be made available to the public by Dec. 1.

The district's student attendance, drop-out and graduation rates, and performance on Missouri Assessment Program tests all improved and outperformed state averages last year.

The average ACT score reached a high 22.7 last year, a point higher than the state average and nearly two points more than the national average.

Experienced teachers

The district also benefited from an experienced staff last year.

With an average 18 years' worth of experience, the district has a number of veteran educators .

However, while the district's average teacher's salary was about $300 more than the state average of $34,230, the amount was offset by the staff's greater average experience, administrators said.

The average administrator's salary, at $59,161, fell slightly below the state average of $62,825.

"Our salaries are below average when you consider the experience factor," said Dr. Sam Duncan, who presented the annual report to the school board. "Our teachers have more experience than the state's average of 15 years, and many of them go back to school for advanced degrees, but that's not reflected in the salary schedule."

All in all, Jackson residents have much to be proud of, Duncan said.

The district spent $4,354 a student last year, well below the $6,324 state average, but the performance by students in various areas indicate the money was well-spent, he said..