Mitchell Middle School and Mitchell Elementary School have received D ratings from the state and need to begin implementing an improvement plan, according to school officials.
Assistant Superintendent Jennifer Gregory gave the Board of Education an update on official ratings of local schools on Thursday.
“Mayland Early College ended up an A school again,” Gregory said. “Mitchell High School was a C school, and Mitchell Elementary and Mitchell Middle School were D schools.”
Gregory noted that the school closures following Hurricane Helene (downgraded to a tropical storm after slowing down over land) had a negative impact on students last year.
“They missed 52 days of instruction, and we ended up with the elementary and middle school on the low-performing list,” Gregory said.
The improvement plans for both schools were given to board members for review, and the board will vote on whether or not the plans pass muster in a future meeting. In the meantime, letters are being sent to parents letting them know about the situation.
At the elementary level, improvement goals include increasing reading proficiency, increasing math proficiency, reducing office referrals, and increasing student engagement. Chronic absenteeism is also a concern.
The middle school is tasked with helping students master formative assessments and standards and also address problems with chronic absenteeism and office referrals.
Board Member Alan English noted that there have been a number of challenges to normal school attendance in recent years.
“We just came off COVID, then we went straight into the storm right as we opened the school year,” English said. “I think to pull out of these would be a miracle.”
English also praised local teachers and other staff members for the support they offered students during the weeks when the schools were still closed last year.
“You all went to the homes (of students),” he said. “You took care of the needs, the psychological needs, of the children and their families — and their neighbors.”
Board Chairman Brandon Pitman reiterated what English said.
“We have some of the best teachers in Mitchell County Schools,” Pitmans said.
English said that his own grandson has been afraid of clouds since the storm.
“I think it affected the elementary kids more,” Superintendent Chad Calhoun said.