By Robyn Woods

Excellence is becoming a habit for the Pearl River Central School District, which marks its second consecutive A rating from the Mississippi Board of Education.

In 2013, the Mississippi Legislature mandated an A-F grading scale for schools, evaluating them based on student achievement and individual student growth. This system aims to help parents and the public understand school performance and encourage ongoing discussions for educational improvement. 

Individual schools within the district also achieved commendable results, with the elementary school earning an A, while the middle and high schools received Bs. Overall, the district scored 689 points, according to Superintendent John Shows.

Since last year, the school district has made significant strides in graduation rates, science proficiency, U.S. History proficiency, math proficiency, and overall growth in students’ MAAP scores. “We saw substantial areas of improvement,” remarked Shows. “This success is because of the dedication of our students, teachers, and staff who worked hard to achieve this goal.”

In addition to academic excellence, Shows is committed to ensuring students have a positive school experience. “When students enjoy coming to school, they’re more likely to graduate,” he explained. “Extracurricular activities and Career and Technical Education course offerings greatly help create a positive atmosphere that encourages students to come to school.” 

He has invested time, money, and resources into enhancing the variety of activities and course selections PRC offers its students. Recently, the high school has also implemented a paid work-study program that can provide students with valuable career experience and insights.

Much of the district’s success can be attributed to teachers who go above and beyond to ensure students have the support and resources they need to succeed. High school principal Crystal Penton and her staff team worked hard even before the scores were released.

 Although the high school’s grades dropped from an A to a B this year, they remain more determined than ever to improve their school and performance on the assessment. The school has recently purchased new curriculum materials to address areas of concern and will provide coaching so teachers can effectively implement these new learning materials. 

In addition, they are analyzing data from previous years to proactively tackle any issues. “Our lead teachers and administrators are taking an active role in classroom observations, monitoring data walls, and offering essential coaching,” Penton added. The journey ahead looks promising, and the district looks forward to even more significant successes in the future.