“Education: Moss Point’s Road Map to Success” is more than just a slogan for the Moss Point School District. It is a concept that we must all believe and embrace as we start a new school year. Education affects every aspect of our community, which is why it is so important that we all understand that this is a joint effort, and we all must take part in the education of our children. As school district employees, we hold ourselves accountable for ensuring that we provide the best education possible for the students of Moss Point. However, we cannot accomplish this alone. Everyone must work toward this goal. Students must be held accountable for their actions in the classrooms. Parents must be accountable for getting involved and working with the school district, and it is imperative that everyone in the community have accountability and show support to our students. We encourage any person, group, or business to volunteer their time and energies to the education of our community. Your thoughts or concerns are important to us, and we want you to know that our door is always open.
The district slogan indicates that education is the foundation of our success as a community. The success of our students is measured in different ways. State test score results are analyzed for improvements. The Mississippi Department of Education then gives school accreditation levels (1-5) based on those tests results. School Districts also have to meet federal guidelines and what is called Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP), which indicates that the district shows growth.
Test scores will be announced August 18. We are excited to share with the community the progress we have made. Our school district is committed to improving in those areas that show minimal or low growth, and we are equally committed to celebrating the success of our students. No achievement is too small for recognition. It is critical that we all come together and rally behind our students as they climb that ladder of success.
Test scores are not the only measure of our success. Besides increases in test scores, other areas of success in the Moss Point School District are increased graduation rate (81.7 percent), scholarship offerings (class of 2005 had more than 3 million dollars in scholarships), and diverse curriculum offerings. As we look toward a new school year, we must focus on continuing to improve in all of these areas.
The district’s new strategic plan outlines strategies and procedures for improvement. The plan addresses everything from student achievement to fiscal soundness. We will use this clear vision of where the school district is headed over the next several years to constantly evaluate our performance as it relates to every goal.
As we approach the new school year, I urge everyone to take this journey with us as we remember that education is “Moss Point’s road map to success.”
Dr. Rachel Carpenter
Superintendent
Moss Point School District
