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Superintendent reports slight enrollment increase, preliminary school accountability results; districts say state data are embargoed
Summary
The superintendent told the board total enrollment rose slightly to 1,784 and average daily attendance for August measured about 94%. School leaders presented preliminary 2024–25 accountability data for several schools; the figures are embargoed until state confirmation in September.
The Marion County School District superintendent reported a modest increase in enrollment and presented preliminary performance data across district schools during the board meeting.
The superintendent said total enrollment stood at 1,784 and that the district's average daily attendance for August was approximately 94 percent. He described statewide patterns of student losses in prior years and said the district’s enrollment had "plateaued" this year.
District administrators and school principals presented preliminary 2024–25 accountability measures that are embargoed until the state board's September meeting. West Marion High School Principal Mrs. DuBose and Associate Superintendent Bridal Stringer described gains in several categories but stressed the data were preliminary. "This is preliminary data," DuBose said, noting the official numbers will be confirmed by the state.
West Marion High reported improvements in English language arts and algebra proficiency in areas the school highlighted; DuBose said a banked score mechanism affected some subjects and cited an 83.7 percent graduation rate in one dataset with expectations the finalized number could be higher once state calculations are applied. East Marion High's principal (identified as Judy in the meeting) also reported gains in ELA and math proficiency and increases in WorkKeys/college-and-career-readiness measures.
The superintendent also briefed the board on the district's accreditation process. He said the district is awaiting completion of a required financial audit because a limited number of eligible auditors statewide has created a backlog; the district's audit work is close to the three-year submission timeframe.
No board action was taken on the preliminary data; the presenters said they will return with additional school-by-school highlights in future meetings once state data are released.
