Canton schools earn ‘C’ rating

The Canton Public School District has earned a “C” rating for the 2023-2024 school year from the Mississippi Department of Education's accountability system. 

A statement from the school district called the grade “successful.” This is the same rating as last year. The district had a “B” rating when the 2022 results came out.

“We are proud to remain successful for three years in a row,” the statement reads. 

According to Gary Hannah, the Superintendent of Canton Public Schools, this has been the most successful three years in the district’s history.

“The last three years we have been a successful district,” Hannah said. “That is something that has never happened.”

The Mississippi Department of Education released the grade-level scores of districts and schools across the state at their Board meeting on Tuesday, September 17, 2024. MDE is in the eleventh year of issuing these accountability grades.

The glaring mark on their score-card is an “F” rating for Nichols Middle School. Hannah said MDE discovered testing irregularities at the school last year and the district ended up having to fire the principal and about 15 teachers.

“We knew they were going to struggle,” Hannah said

He noted they project the school to be a “C” or “B” next year. A result of the testing irregularities means there were no test scores accepted last year and nothing to compare test scores to this year.

“They were not able to get full credit,” Hannah said.

Both Reuben B. Myers Canton School of Arts and Sciences and Canton Elementary schools scored A-ratings. Just behind them were Goodloe Elementary School and McNeal Elementary School with B-ratings.

Canton High School and Huey Porter Middle School both received a C-rating.

“While we lost some momentum in our middle and high schools, we are working diligently to regain their B-ratings,” the statement reads. “Our dedicated teachers, students, and administrators are persevering as we continue to work hard to achieve our goals as we strive for excellence.”

CHS dropped from a “B” last year to a “C” this year. Hannah said staffing changes at the high school meant they expected it would take a school year to “stabilize.” He hoped CHS could be back up to a “B” or higher when the accountability grades are given out next Fall.

“We are disappointed in some of the drops in grades this year but are excited for this upcoming year,” Hannah said. “We are ready to hit the ground running.”