School accountability rankings releasedTuesday show the Brookhaven School District slipping from”Successful” to “Academic Watch” and Brookhaven Elementary andLipsey Middle School both likewise dropping in their accountabilityrankings.

    “In general we were a little disappointed in our results,” saidSuperintendent Dr. Lisa Karmacharya. “We are working diligently toaddress our challenges where we are the weakest.”

    Brookhaven High School retained its “High Performing” status for asecond year in a row, the highest rating in the district.

    Alexander Junior High remained at Successful. Brookhaven Elementaryfell from High Performing to Successful and Lipsey Middle Schooldropped from Successful to Academic Watch.

    The Mississippi Department of Education annually ranks schoolsbased on testing data, growth rates and high school completionrates (if applicable) among other factors. The highest possiblerating is Star, followed by High Performing, Successful, AcademicWatch, Low Performing, At Risk Of Failing and Failing.

    A major component of the ranking process is the qualitydistribution index (QDI). The QDI number measures how well studentsperform on state tests.

    Schools receive no points for students’ scoring minimal, one pointfor students at basic, two for every student testing at proficientand three for advanced students.

    The district-wide QDI number fell from 159 to 155.

    However, based on each year’s results, schools are expected to seecertain increases in the number of students scoring above minimalevery year. It is the growth rate that is the district’s weaknessright now, Karmacharya said.

    “Nothing really stands out aside from growth. Moving children fromminimal to basic would be growth,” Karmacharya said. “But all ofour schools have done really well.”

    The district, Brookhaven Elementary and Lipsey all failed to meettheir growth rates this year.

    Karmacharya said she is encouraged by the fact that, in some cases,schools are only slightly off their target.

    “At one school, they only missed their expected growth rate by asmall decimal point,” Karmacharya said. “That shows me attention todetail is important.”

    At BHS, the continued success has boosted spirits.

    “Getting the High Performing rank two years in a row has generateda lot of excitement,” said BHS Principal Dr. Jay Smith.

    Smith explained that when the school achieved High Performingstatus last year, that was the highest ranking it had everachieved. Previously the school had never ranked above Successful,Smith said.

    BHS saw a small drop in its QDI, from 174 to 170 but met its growthrates.

    Smith said the school saw improve scores in its algebra, Englishand U.S. history state tests.

    According to the data released Tuesday, the BHS graduation rate is74.6 percent.

    Smith placed credit for the school’s success with its teachers.

    “For us to have held two years in a row is a testimony to thequality of our instruction,” Smith said. “I don’t want to takecredit for any of it.”