Performance reports

The Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education recently released its preliminary Annual Performance Reports, and the early results show that most local school districts performed well during the past school year.

Seven academic standards are used to judge K-8 school districts, while K-12 school districts are evaluated on 14 academic points.

All three of the local K-8 school districts received a perfect score, including Altenburg, Kelso and Nell Holcomb. The accreditation and distinction mark for K-8 school districts requires meeting six of the seven points.

The local K-12 districts receiving a perfect score in the preliminary reports include: Advance, Bell City, Jackson, Kelly, Leopold, Oak Ridge, Oran, Scott City, Woodland and Zalma.

Additionally the Cape Girardeau, Meadow Heights and Perry County school districts all met the accreditation standards, meeting 12 of the 14 points. To achieve the mark of distinction a K-12 district must score a 13 on the report.

School districts have until today to review and correct data from the past school year, and the final Annual Performance Reports will come out Sept. 16.

While these results are preliminary, it is encouraging nonetheless. Having strong and vibrant schools is critical for student preparedness as they seek higher education or enter the workforce.

Congratulations to the districts on a job well done, and we look forward to seeing the final report in the next couple of weeks.