The Mississippi Department of Education has released its latest accountability grades, with Poplarville High School ranked as the top high school in the state. The school, previously ranked in the top five with a score of 882, earned the No. 1 spot this year with an improved score of 888.

In addition to the high school’s success, Poplarville Upper Elementary moved from a B grade to an A for the first time. Poplarville Lower Elementary improved from a C to a B, while Poplarville Middle School maintained its B grade.

High School Principal Jonathan Ray attributed the achievement to the dedication of both teachers and students. “At the end of the day, it’s about our teachers and students—they make it possible.”

“Teachers are very excited about being number one in the state,” Ray said. “What put us over the top was our growth in English Language Arts (ELA) and the improvement of the bottom 25%. This shows that our students are learning and growing, and that’s all we can ask for.”

Ray emphasized that the school’s success is the result of consistent effort. “It’s a year-long process and requires buy-in from both teachers and students to make the effort worthwhile. We issue our benchmark testing every four weeks to track our students’ growth,” he explained. The school also conducts an annual improvement plan to address areas needing development.

Superintendent Jonathan Will echoed the sentiment, stating that all Poplarville schools aim to prepare students to become successful adults, regardless of their post-graduation paths. “We teach our students to be successful inside and outside the classroom,” Will said.