With another “A” rating, CPSD is #2 in Mississippi!

Special to The Clinton Courier

Once again, the Clinton Public School District has earned an “A” rating in the state’s accountability system – and not only that, the district is ranked as the second-highest performing district in Mississippi.

The Mississippi Department of Education (MDE) officially approved the accountability grades for the 2025-26 school year on Thursday, October 15, and Clinton’s schools stood out among its metro-area peers as the highest performing district in the metro, as well.

With an overall score of 767, this year’s achievement places CPSD in the top five school districts in the state for the fifth consecutive year since MDE resumed school accountability grades in 2022. MDE tracks the performance of 148 districts across the state, comprised of a total of nearly 850 schools. Thirty-one of those districts earned an “A” rating this year.

“This incredible achievement is a testament to the sustained dedication and hard work of our exceptional students, our committed teachers and our tireless school administrators,” said Clinton Public School District Superintendent Dr. Andy Schoggin. “Maintaining this level of performance every single day requires extraordinary focus. These results represent something far beyond excellence, they show what it truly means to be elite.”

“Our community expects and deserves the very best educational experience for our students, and we remain laser-focused on not only meeting those expectations but on exceeding them as we move forward,” Schoggin added.

“This remarkable achievement is a reflection of the hard work of our students, the dedication of our teachers, and the unwavering support of our community,” said CPSD Board of Trustees President Bernark Kines. “Excellence is not by chance. It is the result of vision, teamwork, and commitment – all of which are demonstrated daily in the Clinton Public School District.”

Schoggin said this continued success is a result of teachers continuously seeking avenues for student improvement.

“Sustaining this level of performance isn’t easy. It requires relentless self-assessment of our instructional practices and a commitment to growth, and that is what our teachers are committed to do,” Schoggin said. “Our teachers understand the importance of maximizing each day we have with students.”

This year’s accountability rankings have Clinton Park Elementary, Northside Elementary, Eastside Elementary, Lovett Elementary and Clinton Junior High School continuing their sustained “A” rating. Sumner Hill Junior High School and Clinton High School combined remained “B”-rated campuses.

Five of CPSD’s campuses—Clinton Park, Northside, Eastside, Lovett and CJHS—rank in the top six percent of 615 elementary and middle schools statewide.

CPSD ranked at the top of the list for districts in mathematics proficiency and was one of only four districts to rank in the top ten in math, English Language Arts (ELA) and science proficiency.

Mississippi’s schools and districts are graded on an A-F scale. The grades are part of the state’s accountability system, which helps teachers, school leaders, parents and communities know how well their local schools and districts are serving their students.

Calculations for the accountability grades rely heavily on the amount of progress elementary students make in ELA, mathematics and science. Secondary students are also assessed in these areas, as well as in Algebra I, Biology and English II. Other factors such as graduation rates, English Learner progress and participation in Advanced Placement and dual enrollment courses are considered in the state’s accountability model.

This year’s A-District celebration will be held at halftime during the Clinton Arrows’ football game on Thursday, November 5.

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