Hancock County schools report benchmark gains; graduation rate tops 90%
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Summary
District presenters told the board midyear benchmarks show a 7-point gain over last year with targeted small‑group math and ELA supports; the district also reported a 90.79% graduation rate and described staffing, funding and attendance initiatives supporting the gains.
Speaker 4 told the board the district’s winter benchmark results show a 7-point improvement compared with the same point last year, with notable gains in seventh‑grade English language arts and LPS that staff attribute to more intentional small‑group instruction and co‑teaching.
The presenter said the district has redeployed two certified math interventionists to deliver in‑class small‑group instruction and is providing modeling and follow‑up coaching to inclusion teachers now referred to as co‑teachers. Formative assessments will be used every few weeks to monitor growth and adjust groups in real time.
At the same meeting, Speaker 10 highlighted broader performance measures, including the junior ACT composite (ranked No. 4 in the state) and a district graduation rate of 90.79 percent, the first time the district has exceeded 90 percent. Speaker 10 also described attendance tracking and said chronic absenteeism is defined for the district as missing roughly 10 days (about 10 percent of the school year to date).
Speaker 10 provided budget context tied to academic priorities: administrative costs in the district are 3.34 percent of total spending, instructional spending is about 62 percent of the budget, operational millage is 37.14 mills and total millage including bond debt is 45.29 mills. The presenter said federal funding timing has delayed final allocations for some intervention positions but that the district expects funds to continue supporting the two math interventionists and related ELA work next year.
Board members and school staff described student incentives — such as rallies and exam‑exemption policies — as contributing to improved attendance and reduced disciplinary incidents. Questions at the meeting clarified that the absenteeism reporting counted excused absences and that the district’s tracking uses a 10‑absence threshold at this point in the year.
The board did not take any additional formal action tied to these reports at the meeting; presenters and several board members encouraged continued monitoring of data and outreach around pending state legislation that could affect enrollments and funding.