How MS Coast districts & schools performed in the state’s 2023-24 education report cards

The Coast’s public schools have received glowing grades: Seven local districts this year ranked among the top 20 in Mississippi.

The state’s Department of Education announced that success Tuesday, when it released the 2023-24 accountability grades given each year to all public schools and districts.

The results featured several wins for the region. Ocean Springs School District ranked first in the state. Long Beach, Bay St. Louis-Waveland and Pass Christian school districts made the top 10. Jackson County, Biloxi and Hancock County districts made the top 20.

“They work so hard,” Long Beach Superintendent Talia Lock said of students, teachers and staff in her district, which ranked third in the state. “It makes the difference.”

Several local schools also ranked high. West Harrison High School was the second-highest ranked high school in the state. Ocean Springs High School was third. Beach Elementary School in Pascagoula ranked as the best elementary school.

“It’s just amazing,” said Brigette Anderson, who served as principal of Beach Elementary last school year. “We had a goal and we surpassed it by a ton.”

“The results of this year’s accountability ratings speak to the incredible commitment of our students and staff to strive for excellence,” Ocean Springs Superintendent Mike Lindsey said in a statement. “I would like to express our deepest gratitude for the commitment and professionalism of our staff, the dedication of our students, and unwavering support of our community.”

State Superintendent Lance Evans said the Coast scored well for the same reasons as districts across the state, including greater focus on standards, training of districts and teachers and a recovery after the struggles of online learning during the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Our students can achieve,” he said. “That’s why you find that success not just on the Coast, but all over Mississippi.”

Some schools did not fare as well. Several elementary and middle schools, including in Biloxi and Gulfport, earned Cs. Moss Point Kreole Primary School earned a D. All still scored much higher than Mississippi’s worst-performing schools.

The state ranks schools on complex criteria, including test scores, graduation rates and how much the lowest performing students improve each year.

State education leaders say the grades help teachers, schools and parents know how well their students are doing and how they must improve. The Mississippi Department of Education wants each school and district to earn a C or higher. It said 86 percent of schools did so in 2024.

Here’s a closer look at each Coast district.

Ocean Springs School District

The Ocean Springs School District ranked first in Mississippi.

It is the second year in a row the district has ranked first in the state. In his statement, Superintendent Mike Lindsey said that ranking “is no small feat,” and that it “truly showcases the dedication of our entire school community to provide an engaging and innovative learning environment.”

Ocean Springs High School ranked third in the state.

Magnolia Park Elementary, Oak Park Elementary School, Ocean Springs Upper Elementary School, Pecan Park Elementary School and Ocean Springs Middle School earned A-grades from the Mississippi Department of Education.

Long Beach School District

The Long Beach School District ranked third in Mississippi. It ranked second last year.

Long Beach High School earned an A-grade from the Mississippi Department of Education.

Long Beach Middle School, W.J. Quarles Elementary School, Harper McCaughan Elementary School and Thomas L. Reeves Elementary School also earned As.

Superintendent Talia Lock said the success comes from everyone in the district, from parents and students to teachers and support staff. She attributed the high scores to the district’s emphasis on several factors, including learning growth and a focus on attendance and mental health. She also said test scores alone do not define Long Beach students.

“This is just part of our story,” Lock said.

Bay St. Louis-Waveland School District

The Bay St. Louis-Waveland School District ranked fifth in the state. It rose in the rankings since last year, when it placed 11th.

Bay High School earned an A-grade from the state Department of Education.

North Bay Elementary School, Waveland Elementary School and Bay Waveland Middle School also earned As.

Pass Christian Public School District

The Pass Christian Public School District ranked sixth in Mississippi. It rose from last year, when it ranked 12th.

Pass Christian High School ranked fifth in Mississippi.

Pass Christian Elementary, Delisle Elementary School and Pass Christian Middle earned A-grades.

The district said it was the first time since 2013 all schools earned As.

Biloxi Public School District

The Biloxi Public School District tied the Jackson County School District for 11th in Mississippi. Biloxi ranked 10th last year.

Biloxi High School earned an A-grade from the Mississippi Department of Education.

North Bay Elementary School, Back Bay Elementary School, Gorenflo Elementary School, Biloxi Junior High, Nichols Elementary School and Biloxi Upper Elementary School earned As.

Popps Ferry Elementary School earned a C.

Jackson County School District

The Jackson County School District tied the Biloxi Public School District for 11th in Mississippi. It rose from a 16th-place ranking last year.

Vancleave High School ranked ninth in Mississippi and earned an A-grade from the state Department of Education.

East Central High School and St. Martin High School also earned As.

Vancleave Upper Elementary, Vancleave Lower Elementary, Vancleave Middle School, East Central Middle School, St. Martin Middle School and St Martin N Elementary School earned As.

St Martin East Elementary School, East Central Lower Elementary, East Central Upper Elementary and St Martin Upper Elementary earned Bs.

Hancock County School District

The Hancock County School District tied for 14th in Mississippi. The district earned an A-grade from the Mississippi Department of Education and moved up since last year’s placements, when it ranked 18th.

Hancock High School ranked eight best in Mississippi.

East Hancock Elementary School scored seventh best of Mississippi’s elementary and middle schools.

Other Hancock County schools also scored high: West Hancock Elementary School and Hancock North Central Elementary earned As.

South Hancock Elementary School and Hancock Middle School earned Bs.

Harrison County School District

The Harrison County School District tied for 21st in the state. It dropped one place from last year, when it ranked 20th. The district earned an A-grade from the Mississippi Department of Education.

West Harrison High School ranked second in the state, just behind Poplarville High School.

D’Iberville High School earned an A. Harrison Central High School earned a B.

All but six middle and elementary schools in the district earned As. Bel Aire Elementary School, River Oaks Elementary School, West Harrison Middle School and Harrison Central Elementary School earned Bs.

North Gulfport Elementary and Middle School and Crossroads Elementary School earned Cs.

Gulfport School District

The Gulfport School District tied for 23rd in Mississippi. The district rose from last year, when it ranked 29th.

Bayou View Elementary School ranked fifth in state.

Gulfport High School earned an A-grade from the state’s Department of Education.

Pass Road Elementary School, West Elementary School, Anniston Avenue Elementary School and Bayou View Middle School earned As.

Twenty Eighth Street Elementary earned a B.

Gulfport Central Middle School and Central Elementary School earned Cs.

Pascagoula-Gautier School District

The Pascagoula-Gautier School District tied for 39th in Mississippi and earned an A-grade from the state Department of Education. The district ranked 44th last year.

Beach Elementary School in Pascagoula scored highest of any elementary or middle school in the state. Former Principal Brigette Anderson attributed the success to “incredible” teachers and parents, who she said should feel honored.

“It was teamwork,” she said.

Pascagoula High School earned an A. Gautier High School was the lowest-ranked high school on the Coast and earned a B. The grade was far better than the worst-performing high schools in Mississippi, which earned Ds.

Martin Bluff Elementary School, Central Elementary School, Eastlawn Elementary School, Gautier Elementary School, Lake Elementary School and Cherokee Elementary School earned As.

Singing River Academy, Gautier Middle School, William M Colmer Middle School, Jackson Elementary School, Arlington Heights Elementary School and College Park Elementary earned Bs.

Trent Lott Academy earned a C.

Moss Point School District

The Moss Point School District ranked 63rd in Mississippi. It earned a B-grade from the state’s Department of Education.

Moss Point had the lowest-ranked elementary school on the Coast: Moss Point Kreole Primary School, which earned a D. But its grade was still better than the lowest-ranking schools in Mississippi, which earned Fs.

Moss Point High School and Moss Point Escatawpa Upper Elementary earned Bs.

Magnolia Middle School earned a C.

This story was originally published September 17, 2024 at 11:28 AM.