DeSoto School System Achieves Continued Growth
in Student Performance
This week the Louisiana Department of Education publicly released the results of the 2018-2019 School and District Performance Scores. Schools in Desoto Parish continue to show growth in student performance. In fact, the latest release of accountability results show that Desoto Parish leads Northwest Louisiana with District Performance Scores and is an “A” district in K-8 and High School Student Achievement Progress for a second consecutive year.
The district grew their DPS to a score of 88.3, which is 1.4 overall points above the 2017-2018 school year. This overall growth is above the state average.
“We are excited to celebrate the growth of our students and the continued success of our school system,” remarked Superintendent Clay Corley. “This is the result of the hard work of our teachers, administrators and support staff. We are fortunate to have a shared commitment from our school board and community. The resources they provide and expectations for our performance are the catalyst that helps bring out the best in each of us every day.”
DeSoto students showed overall performance growth in several areas including: grades 3-12 assessments, grades 9-12 student progress and dropout credit accumulation. The largest area of growth was noted in the scores of ACT and Workkeys assessments.
Mansfield Elementary had the largest school performance growth in the district of 13.5 points. The school’s performance score grew from 59.3 to 72.8, and is now given a letter grade of “C”. “We are extremely proud of our Wolverines! Our entire faculty and staff are deeply committed to our vision of building a strong foundation at Mansfield Elementary School, and our recent academic gains show that we are serving our vision,” stated Brittany Anderson, Mansfield Elementary Principal. “Thank you students, parents, faculty, and staff. Our remarkable academic gains are a result of your hard work and dedication.”
Two-thirds of the DeSoto Schools have been given the title of “Top Gains” schools which means they received an “A” in the area of student achievement progress. Those schools are: Logansport High, Mansfield Elementary, Mansfield High, North Desoto Lower Elementary, North Desoto Upper Elementary, North Desoto Middle and Stanley High.
What started as a pep rally turned into one big announcement for DeSoto Parish Schools: The district earned the 2019 Award of Excellence for Educator Effectiveness from NIET, which comes with a $50,000 prize. Watch NIET Chairman and Founder Lowell Milken deliver the news to excited educators, students, and local and state officials gathered at Mansfield Elementary School.
DeSoto's decade-long partnership with NIET has led to significant results. DeSoto has jumped from #45 to #12 in its state ranking, and has performed in the top 4% of school districts nationally in math and English language arts growth.
DeSoto's transformation demonstrates the power of high-quality teaching practices and how a commitment to excellent teaching focused on high expectations every day can overcome barriers. Student demographics and population have remained relatively unchanged over the past decade, with a majority of the 5,000 students classifying as economically disadvantaged. Now, faculty in DeSoto schools focus on developing a growth mindset for individual students and teachers alike, and they are continuously strengthening their commitment to effective instruction.
Visit National Institute for Excellence Teaching to read more about their partnership with DeSoto Parish and other school districts.
Feb. 17-Presidents' Day Holiday
Feb.18-21-Winter Break
Feb. 24-Professional Development (No Students)
