Canton Public School District
Dwight J. Luckett, Ed. S.
Superintendent
Canton Public School District
First Person Column
CANTON SUPERINTENDENT NOT IN FAVOR OF GOVERNOR'S CONSOLIDATION PROPOSAL FOR CANTON DISTRICT
While I understand the constraints of a tight budget year, I do not feel the answer to the problem is undermining the very thing that will eventually lead the state to economic prosperity--education. Consolidating the Canton Public School District with the Madison County School District is not the answer to overcoming the years of challenges that have plagued the educational system in this area. The answer is making sure you have quality leadership and quality teachers in place to meet the challenges of more rigorous accountability measures that are in place to make sure children are receiving a quality education. Downsizing professional staff that is essential to making sure our children can compete globally is not the answer to positioning Mississippi for success. Our district has made tremendous social and academic progress. We have lowered our dropout rate, increased our graduation rate, moved three schools out of school improvement, and restructured our schools as we continue to improve our district. We have been very fiscally conservative and responsible with taxpayer dollars. We feel we can continue to improve and chart our own course to ensure our children are lifelong learners, able to compete with anyone in the world.
MISSISSIPPI DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
ACCOUNTABILITY LABELS
STAR SCHOOL
HIGH PERFORMING
SUCCESSFUL
ACADEMIC WATCH
LOW PERFORMING
AT-RISK OF FAILING
FAILING
I know when you hear the label “at risk of failing” I can only imagine what must be going through your mind. The label sounds like a district where there is little improvement occurring. The label doesn’t lend itself to offering much hope of overcoming years of perhaps uncontrollable shortcomings. However, that is the new label being placed on 55 school districts across Mississippi under the new rating system by the Mississippi Department of Education. The Canton Public School District is one of the Districts affected. Under the new accountability system, districts received one of the following seven labels: failing, at risk of failing, low performing, academic watch, successful, high performing, or star. Under the new accountability model, each school receives its own label. This is how the Canton Public School District rated:
· Canton High School- was “at risk of failing” now it has improved to “academic watch”
· Nichols Middle School- was “failing”- now it has improved to “at risk of failing”
· Canton Elementary- was “at risk of failing” – now it has increased two labels to “academic watch”
· Canton School of Arts & Sciences-( a new school) is rated as “academic watch.”
The labels don’t tell the full story of the tremendous improvements that have and are occurring in our school district every day. The labels don’t tell you that three of our schools are no longer in school improvement. Only one remains in that status. The labels don’t tell you that in the first two years that I served as superintendent, the district’s graduation rate improved from 29.7% in 2005-’06 to 65% in 2007-’08. That is 35.3% more students graduating. The labels don’t tell you that our district’s dropout rate went from 42.7% in 2005-’06 school year to 10.8% in 2007-’08. That is over 30% more students choosing to stay in school. The labels don’t tell you that our test scores have improved. The district is excited about the outstanding achievement of its third graders. In Language Arts, third graders at Canton Elementary and Canton School of Arts & Sciences, scored higher in percent proficient, than all schools in the Metro Area including the State average.
Language Arts
· Canton % Proficient 47.5
State Average 34.1
In Math, third graders at Canton Elementary and Canton School of Arts & Sciences, scored higher in percent proficient, than the State average and all schools in the Metro Area except for Pearl.
Math
· Canton %Proficient 54.9
State Average 44.5
Pearl 55.3
- While we are not content with our performance, we are pleased with the progress that our students, teachers, administrators, parents, and district have made. We are especially encouraged by and very pleased with the performance of our third graders. We are continuing to put systems in place to see this type of academic performance in all of our schools. This is the result of concerted efforts of teachers, administrators, and the entire Central Office staff working together to move our district to greater academic success. We are pleased our efforts have already led to a higher graduation rate and a lower dropout rate as we continue to strive for greater student achievement. Therefore, when you hear these new labels please also know that we are a work in progress, we are improving, and we are achieving as we reach new heights. Just remember:
The Canton Public School District is / has:
- Graduating more students
- Decreasing dropout rate
- Moved 3 schools out of school improvement status
- 95% of our certified teachers are highly qualified. Eighty-eight(88) teachers have advanced degrees
- Teachers participate in ongoing, rigorous professional development
- Offering students more individualized tutoring
- Implemented a speaker series to get professionals to talk to students about career choices
- Increased mentors
- Offering Saturday school
- Offering afterschool tutorial
- Improved Curriculum alignment
- Developed district test to track students’ progress
- Revamped curriculum and state and federal programs offices
- Restructured schools and added new leadership