DeSoto County leaders report benchmark gains, expanded tutoring and higher graduation rate

At the DeSoto County School Board’s regular meeting, district leaders presented quarter‑to‑date assessment data, school visit findings and program updates showing pockets of academic improvement and operational changes intended to boost outcomes.

Dr. Reynolds, the district presenter, told the board the leadership team conducts quarterly "view visits" to classrooms to combine qualitative observations with quantitative measures, and that the visits drive school‑level action steps and district supports. "We try to make actionable steps based on at the school level," he said.

The update covered three types of information: the district's classroom view visits and follow‑up actions; interim benchmark comparisons across multiple “PM” measures; and a new crosswalk the district used to estimate how many benchmark items a student must answer correctly to be classified at each state achievement level. Using DeSoto PM2 data, district staff estimated that, for example, third‑grade math students who answered 22 of 35 items correctly (about 63%) would be at least a Level 3 on the district benchmark.

High school figures drew specific attention. Dr. White, the high school presenter, said the district's graduation goal is 80 percent and reported the current graduation rate at 82.6 percent. He said 31 seniors still need one or more requirements to receive a diploma and that the school is providing supplemental instruction and test opportunities (the school day SAT/CLT) to help those students.

Principals described school‑level actions tied to the data. Reported strategies include targeted after‑school tutoring funded by district tutoring funds (a cohort of about 100 students was targeted at one school, with consistent daily attendance of roughly 50–55 students), expanded small‑group instruction, use of instructional coaches to write and align assessments, and extended planning time for teachers in upper elementary grades.

Several principals said discipline and in‑school suspension days have declined after implementing PBIS and restructuring schedules to keep student groups smaller. One middle school presentation said referrals dropped by about 1,000 and the school saved "over a thousand days" in suspensions this year by changing schedules, moving to team models (four teachers rotating the same ~100 students), and adding paraprofessional support.

Board members and the superintendent praised the presentations and highlighted the district’s focus on aligning instruction to tested standards, clarifying benchmarks, and following up on view‑visit action items. Superintendent Dr. Bennett and other board members also noted work on school improvement, and the district announced upcoming workshops on workforce housing (April 22) and a planned May workshop with a drug‑free coalition.

No new policy changes or ordinance‑level decisions were made during the assessment presentations; the meeting’s actions that required votes were procedural (agenda, minutes, financial reports and routine business) and were approved by the board.

The meeting closed with condolences from the superintendent after the district reported two recent employee deaths and appreciation from board members for principals’ instructional leadership and the reported gains in data.

Ending: The board will bring final end‑of‑year assessment data to the board in May as principals and district staff complete spring benchmarks and state testing windows. The board also signaled plans for continued follow up on the high school property acquisition and land‑contract work discussed earlier in the meeting.