By MICHAEL SIMMONS, Madison County Journal
Wednesday, April 27, 2016 6:00 PM
The Madison County School District had the 13th highest graduation rate in the state, according to 2015 district graduation and dropout rates released by the Mississippi Department of Education this week.
The district, which had 867 students included in the numbers, had an 88.9 percent graduation rate. It was the largest district in the top 13, with Lamar County in fifth place the second highest with 582 students.
The DeSoto County School District finished with an 88.8 percent graduation rate and 2,265 students were included in the figures.
The Mississippi School for Math and Science (64 students) and Mississippi School for the Arts (40 students) had the highest graduation rates of 98.4 percent and 97.5 percent, respectively. Benoit (17 students) and Enterprise (67 students) rounded out the top five.
“We’re pleased our young people are graduating at a higher rate,” Superintendent Dr. Ronnie McGehee said. “We feel like this is a result of our students, teachers and principals buying into our motto of ‘Educate, Motivate, and Graduate.’”
McGehee said years ago the district invested in literacy specialists and that’s helping produce a higher number of graduates, too.
“We’re seeing the benefits of that in our graduation rate,” he said. “We believe a better reader is a better student.”
He added, “Also, we promote graduation in order to give our students more options as they continue their education after they leave us.”
The MCSD also had the ninth highest graduation rate for students with disabilities at 49.8 percent with 46 students included.
The Canton Public School District, on the other hand, had the 153rd highest rate, at only 52.4 percent. There were 201 students included in the count.
Canton also had one of the lowest graduation rates for students with disabilities at 5 percent of 31 students included.
Attempts to contact CPS Superintendent Cassandra Williams were unsuccessful as of press time.
During the same four-year period, the MCSD posted a 7.3 percent dropout rate. CPS had a 25.1 percent dropout rate.
Statewide, the graduation rate rose from 74.5 percent in 2013-2014 to 78.4 percent for 2014-2015. In 2010-2011, that number was at 71.4 percent. Dropout rates were better for 2014-2015, down from 13.9 percent to 12.8 percent.
Dr. Carey Wright, state superintendent of education, said districts across the state focused on keeping children in schools and focusing on attendance.
“Those efforts, as well as the Mississippi Department of Education providing more technical assistance to districts and school counselors to help students explore multiple pathways to college and careers, have contributed to dramatic decreases in students leaving school and increases in graduation,” Wright said in a release.
