Jackson public schools earn top accreditation rating

Jackson's public schools reached the highest accreditation status possible, earning an "accredited with distinction" rating in the last school year, according to annual performance reports released Friday by the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education.

Schools in Advance, Cape Girardeau, Perryville, Scott City and Marble Hill all retained at least accredited status.

The 2013 reports were based on the fifth version of the Missouri School Improvement Program, a revised accountability system approved by the state board of education in 2011, according to DESE.

The annual performance reports show how well each public school and each school district are meeting education standards.

Under the program, each school and each school district in Missouri is awarded points based on performance in five areas: academic achievement; subgroup achievement (which includes minority students and students eligible for free or reduced-price lunches); college and career or high school readiness; attendance rate; and graduation rate.

Schools or school districts that score a 90 percent or above are categorized as "accredited with distinction." Those that score 70 percent or higher are "accredited." "Provisional" includes those that score a 50 to 69.9 percent, and "unaccredited" includes those schools or school districts that score 49.9 percent or lower.

Cape Girardeau's public schools scored 103.5 of 140 points, or 73.9 percent. The Jackson School District scored 92.5 percent, earning 129.5 of 140 points. Jackson scored higher than Cape Girardeau in social studies and attendance points. In attendance, Cape Girardeau scored 7.5 out of 10 points possible, compared to the Jackson district that earned all 10 points. Both schools scored a perfect 30 in the graduation rate category.

Cape Girardeau superintendent Dr. James Welker said the hard work of the district's teachers and staff is beginning to show.

"I think overall we were pleased with the progress and the way the district is going," Welker said.

He said the district saw a large increase in its five-year graduation rate, which increased 14 percent from the previous year.

Although improvements still are needed, Welker said the district improved in comparison to the 2011-2012 school year.

"We believe the professional development we're doing through professional learning communities is helping out in terms of taking us in the right directions as far as school improvement goes," he said.

Scott City's schools earned 128 of 140 points, or 91.4 percent, earning perfect scores in attendance and graduation rate.

Close behind was the Advance School District, which scored 87.9 percent, lacking points in English scores and in attendance.

The Woodland School District followed with a score of 83.2 percent. scoring lower in mathematics and in attendance.

The Perry County Public School District scored 99 of 140 points, or 70.7 percent, just above the provisional accreditation level. The school district's total was dragged down by poor academic scores in some areas, including zero of eight points in the social studies category, and 7.5 of 10 in attendance.

adowning@semissourian.com

388-3632

Pertinent address:

Perryille, MO

Scott City, MO

Cape Girardeau, MO

Advance, MO

Jackson, MO

APR percentage scores

Advance: 87.9

Cape Girardeau: 73.9

Jackson: 92.5

Perryville: 70.7

Scott City: 91.4

Woodland: 83.2

Source: Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education