(October 15, 2026) – The Harrison County School District is proud to announce that we have once again achieved an “A” rating from the Mississippi Department of Education!

According to accountability results released by MDE this morning, HCSD earned a total of 711 points, placing our district among the top 23 school districts in Mississippi. We are especially pleased to share that out of 231 high schools in the state, all three HCSD high schools earned “A” ratings and are ranked among the state’s top 30! Special shoutout to West Harrison High for ranking #2 among high schools in Mississippi!

*West Harrison High School — #2 in Mississippi
*D’Iberville High School — #27 in Mississippi
*Harrison Central High School — #30 in Mississippi

Join us in congratulating these 14 outstanding schools for earning an “A” rating:
• Creekbend Elementary & Middle
• D’Iberville Elementary - #21 in the State
• D’Iberville High - #27 in the State
• D’Iberville Middle
• Harrison Central High - #30 in the State
• Lizana Elementary
• Lyman Elementary
• North Woolmarket Elementary & Middle
• Pineville Elementary - #12 in the State
• River Oaks Elementary – First A Rating
• Saucier Elementary
• Three Rivers Elementary
• West Harrison High — #2 in the State
• West Wortham Elementary & Middle

We are excited to recognize River Oaks Elementary for a major achievement: its first-ever “A” rating!

Kudos to several HCSD Schools for making impressive progress in their accountability scores:
• Pineville Elementary: +66 points.
• Harrison Central High: +55 points.
• River Oaks Elementary: +52 points.

HCSD also congratulates our four B-Rated schools:
• Crossroads Elementary
• Orange Grove Elementary
• West Harrison Middle
• Woolmarket Elementary

A message from HCSD Superintendent William Bentz:
“I could not be more proud of the Harrison County School District as we celebrate earning another “A” accountability rating from the Mississippi Department of Education and being recognized among the top-performing school districts in our state!

First and foremost, congratulations to our students! Your hard work, determination, and commitment to learning are the reasons we celebrate this outstanding achievement. As superintendent, it is an honor to see firsthand the dedication that takes place across our district every day.

This accomplishment belongs to our students, teachers, administrators, instructional and support staff, and every employee who contributes to our success. From our classrooms and school offices to our cafeterias, custodial team, buses, technology, maintenance departments, and Central Office, every person and every position matters. It takes all of us working together to help our students learn, grow, and excel.

I also want to sincerely thank our Harrison County School Board for its continued leadership and commitment to our students, along with our parents, families, and the incredible communities throughout Harrison County. Your partnership, encouragement, and belief in our schools are essential to our success.

While we are extremely proud of this recognition, what excites me most is what it represents: hardworking students, dedicated employees, strong leadership, and communities that believe in public education.

To every student, employee, School Board member, parent, and community member, this achievement belongs to all of us! It reflects significant progress and inspires us to build on this momentum, expand opportunities, and help ensure every student has the support needed to succeed. We have much to celebrate, and I truly believe our best days are still ahead of us!”