When the Mississippi Department of Education released its 2022-23 accountability scores Thursday, the Noxubee County School District didn’t have the highest score among Golden Triangle school districts.

A “C” rating may not be cause for celebration at most school districts, but for Noxubee County, it’s a notable achievement because sometimes the best measure of success is not where you are, but how far you have come.

Noxubee is one of three Mississippi School Districts currently under state conservatorship, a last-gasp measure taken when a district has failed beyond hope without some sort of intervention.

According to the MDE, since 1996, 20 Mississippi School Districts have been taken over by the state 23 times (the former Oktibbeha County School District, the Tunica School District and the North Panola School District were taken over by the state twice).

MDE took over the Noxubee County School District on July 25, 2018, citing the district’s pattern of poor academic performance, severe financial issues, and violations of federal and state law and accreditation standards. Since being taken over by the state, NCSD has resolved its financial, management and accreditation issues and has continually improved academic performance.

District improvements include the consolidation of two elementary schools into one, the implementation of research-based instructional practices, and educator and leadership development

The turn-around didn’t happen overnight. Noxubee scored an “F” the first two years of state control. Since 2021, however, Earl Nash Elementary School and B.F. Liddell Middle

School improved their grades from an F to a D, Noxubee County High School improved from a

D to a B, and the district-wide grade improved from an F to a C.

State conservatorship is never pleasant, but it does produce results. All three state-controlled districts have made dramatic strides. Tunica School District scored a “B” rating for the second consecutive year while Holmes County School District maintained a “C” for the second year in a row.

What these scores show is that kids are pretty much the same everywhere and can be successful in the right environment.

“This achievement is the direct result of raising expectations for what students can accomplish and providing them with quality instruction and support to help them reach and exceed those expectations,” said Dr. Washington Cole, Interim-Superintendent. “This year’s grade proves that Noxubee County’s students are just as capable as students throughout the state and nation.”

We congratulate the administrators, teachers, staff, students and parents at Noxubee County School District. You’ve come a long way.

The Dispatch Editorial Board is made up of publisher Peter Imes, columnist Slim Smith, managing editor Zack Plair and senior newsroom staff.