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(HARRISON COUNTY, MS) September 27, 2022 – The Harrison County School District has once again achieved an A rating and has advanced to the highest academic ranking in its history! HCSD is also excited and proud to be home to the #1 high school in the state – West Harrison High School!
According to unofficial 2021-22 Accountability Grades released by the Mississippi Department of Education today, HCSD is now ranked #14 out of 138 school districts and seven charter schools in Mississippi. The number of A-rated schools in HCSD continues to grow from ten to 14.
West Harrison High has not only maintained its A rating year after year, the school has also jumped from ranking third in the state to taking over the top spot this year.
“Decisions Determine Destinations. It is the center point of Hurricane Pride. West Harrison’s motto is “Strive for Excellence” because excellence IS the expectation for all students, teachers, and staff entering the Eye of the Storm,” said WHHS Principal Dr. Michael Weaver. “What an honor it is to take the reins of West Harrison at this time of such a momentous achievement! The teachers, counselors, staff, and most of all, our dynamic students at West Harrison are second to none, and our scores are proof of it. West Harrison prides itself on the academic success of our students and our teachers’ ownership of data. I would like to thank last year’s administrative team for getting our students prepared for the state assessment.”
Congratulations to the following schools in HCSD for earning their “A” status:
• West Harrison High School: #1 High School in MS
• D’Iberville High School: #10 High School in MS
• Woolmarket Elementary School: #11 Elementary School in MS
• Pineville Elementary School: #20 Elementary School in MS
• Lizana Elementary School
• North Woolmarket Elementary & Middle School
• D’Iberville Elementary School
• Saucier Elementary School
• Lyman Elementary School
• Three Rivers Elementary School
• Harrison Central Elementary School
• Orange Grove Elementary School
• Crossroads Elementary School
• D’Iberville Middle School
“I am extremely proud of the accomplishments of our schools in the Harrison County School District! The hard work of our students, teachers, staff, and administrators has paid off with outstanding results! Through difficult times, our teachers have persevered to show how good instruction can overcome any obstacle,” said HCSD Superintendent Mitchell King.
D’Iberville High, Harrison Central Elementary, and Crossroads Elementary are the newest A-rated schools in HCSD. Crossroads Elementary made the most remarkable leap in the district, moving from a “C” in 2019 to an “A” rating this year.
D’Iberville High’s performance is also impressive! DHS is now ranked #10 in the state. The school earned a 92% proficiency score on the Algebra I state assessment, and its graduation rate rose to 91.5%.
“This is a special day for the community of D’Iberville, especially for the students, faculty, staff, and administrators. Today, we were notified that DHS is an A-rated school and the 10th best high school in Mississippi! The teachers here have surpassed all expectations, and the students are simply phenomenal! This day is a testament to what hard work and a never ceasing quest for excellence can accomplish. It is truly the proudest day of my professional life!” said D’Iberville High Principal Cheryl Broadus.
This is the first time since 2019 that Mississippi schools and districts have earned new grades due to disruptions from the pandemic. The grades are part of the state’s accountability system, and they help teachers, school leaders, parents, and communities know how well their local schools and districts are serving their students. The accountability system includes the following components:
• Student proficiency and growth rates in ELA and Mathematics in grades 3-8
• Growth of the lowest performing 25% of students in ELA and Mathematics
• Science proficiency in grades 5 and 8
• English Learner progress toward becoming proficient in the English language
• Performance on the ACT and high school Algebra I, English II, Biology, and U.S. History assessments
• Student participation and performance in advanced coursework such as Advanced Placement and dual credit/dual enrollment courses
• Four-year graduation rate
Here are the B-rated schools in HCSD:
• Harrison Central High School
• Bel-Aire Elementary School
• River Oaks Elementary School
• West Wortham Elementary & Middle School
• West Harrison Middle School
“We are very proud of our schools’ achievements,” said King. “We will keep working toward our goals so our students and schools in HCSD will continue to improve.”