“The driving force around here is for the kids,” said Choctaw County School Superintendent Glen Beard, as the focus of all efforts in the district is for the benefit of the students.
The Choctaw County School District is a ‘B’ district and Beard said that he believes they are within striking distance of an ‘A’ this academic year.
However, Choctaw County schools are about much more than a letter grade. Beard said, “It’s about the overall educational experience and making contributing members of society. Our kids are a whole lot more than a test.”
The CCSD consists of Ackerman Elementary School, Weir Elementary School, French Camp Elementary School and Choctaw County High School. This past year, AES was an ‘A’ school, WES was only seven points from a ‘B’, French Camp was a ‘B’ after two years as an ‘A’, and CCHS was a ‘C’, but Beard sees them possibly moving to a ‘B’ this year.
The graduation rate for 2019 was in the mid-80s percent, but that can be somewhat misleading as graduation is based on a ‘cohort model,’ which means that the school district is accountable for all students who began the ninth grade together. In other words, if a student was in school in Choctaw County in the ninth grade and moved out of the district, CCSD is still accountable for that student.
As evidence of their commitment to excellence the District is in the final stages of Phase I of a building program at Choctaw County High School, at no cost to the taxpayers of Choctaw County. Phase I includes a brand new building which will house administrative offices for CCHS, a new cafeteria & kitchen, English Dept., Biology Dept., Choral Dept., and some dual-enrollment.
Beard stated that the new building not only gives a new look and face to CCHS but adds some much needed ‘elbow room.’ This will allow lunch periods to be cut from three down to two which means more instructional minutes.
The plan was to begin moving into the new building during Spring Break.
Athletically, the CCHS Chargers football team had and outstanding season under firstyear head coach, Jeff Roberts, advancing to the north-half championship before losing to Noxubee County, a team they had defeated in the regular season. With a great nucleus returning expectations are high for the 2020 season.
The District is in the process of finalizing the purchase of Tom Glasgow Park from the Town of Ackerman, which will be the location of new athletic facilities including a new football field, with renovation and reorientation of the baseball and softball fields planned.
Beard stated that the new facilities will be another point of pride for the entire community.
In addition, CCSD offers boys and girls basketball, baseball, softball, cross-country, track, golf, archery, and in the future plans to add tennis, sport clay shooting and a fishing team.
Beard stated that the extracurricular activities are important as studies show that students who are involved in something are much more likely to remain in school.
For families in a small town environment Choctaw County School District offers a wellrounded, balanced educational experience designed to prepare students for what comes after high school.
