Starkville Schools Have Never Been Better
The public schools in Starkville and Oktibbeha County have never been better. That is a strong statement, and it is true. Looking at the big picture is particularly important since the leadership of the Board of Trustees of the Starkville Oktibbeha Consolidated School District has been criticized.
A vocal few who have disagreed with the school board have called on school board members to resign. The very idea is ridiculous on its face. Imagine disagreeing with a Supreme Court ruling, and then suggesting that the judges in the majority should resign.
In fact, given our recent progress on education, our community owes a debt of gratitude to the members of the school board. To begin with, consolidation has been successfully achieved, and this was no small feat. School consolidation has been needed for more than 40 years – pooling our scarce resources to allow all the students in Oktibbeha County to have access to quality education.
Just a few years ago, this action was unthinkable, and now it is a fait accompli. Moreover, the way we achieved consolidation is now considered a model for the rest of the state. People from around the state, including statewide elected officials and legislators, admire what we have done in Starkville. Our consolidated public schools are a source of pride for our community. The school board that has overseen and implemented this historic achievement deserves our thanks, not our scorn.
One successful outcome of school consolidation is a new partnership between the school district and Mississippi State University that is stronger than any collaborative effort in our history. In the near future, MSU and the school district will build a Partnership School for grades 6-7 on the MSU campus. This close-knit relationship between a major research university and a school district is unprecedented in our state, a boon for our children, and cause for celebration.
Our public schools have a record enrollment because parents are attracted to our quality. For example, 65% of students at Starkville High School scored a 3 or higher (5 is the highest score) on their Advanced Placement (AP) Exam in 2015 compared to 61% of students nationally and 37% of students in Mississippi. In addition, the number of students taking AP courses has increased from 111 in 2011 to 190 in 2015 while the number of AP tests administered increased from 133 in 2011 to 258 in 2015.
Extracurricular offerings in the school district are at an all-time high, and students in these programs compete well in state and national competitions. From band, drama, and choir to robotics, National History Day, and student journalism, our local students regularly place among the best of the best.
Of course, last week the Yellowjackets defeated Oxford High School in the Little Egg Bowl...again!
The point is that public education in Oktibbeha County is better than ever and moving in a positive direction. The school board that has presided over this unprecedented success deserves praise for steering our district through a challenging time and taking the district to new heights. It is a great time to be a Starkville Yellowjacket!
Brother Rogers works at the Stennis Center for Public Service and is a guest columnist for the Starkville Daily News.
A vocal few who have disagreed with the school board have called on school board members to resign. The very idea is ridiculous on its face. Imagine disagreeing with a Supreme Court ruling, and then suggesting that the judges in the majority should resign.
In fact, given our recent progress on education, our community owes a debt of gratitude to the members of the school board. To begin with, consolidation has been successfully achieved, and this was no small feat. School consolidation has been needed for more than 40 years – pooling our scarce resources to allow all the students in Oktibbeha County to have access to quality education.
Just a few years ago, this action was unthinkable, and now it is a fait accompli. Moreover, the way we achieved consolidation is now considered a model for the rest of the state. People from around the state, including statewide elected officials and legislators, admire what we have done in Starkville. Our consolidated public schools are a source of pride for our community. The school board that has overseen and implemented this historic achievement deserves our thanks, not our scorn.
One successful outcome of school consolidation is a new partnership between the school district and Mississippi State University that is stronger than any collaborative effort in our history. In the near future, MSU and the school district will build a Partnership School for grades 6-7 on the MSU campus. This close-knit relationship between a major research university and a school district is unprecedented in our state, a boon for our children, and cause for celebration.
Our public schools have a record enrollment because parents are attracted to our quality. For example, 65% of students at Starkville High School scored a 3 or higher (5 is the highest score) on their Advanced Placement (AP) Exam in 2015 compared to 61% of students nationally and 37% of students in Mississippi. In addition, the number of students taking AP courses has increased from 111 in 2011 to 190 in 2015 while the number of AP tests administered increased from 133 in 2011 to 258 in 2015.
Extracurricular offerings in the school district are at an all-time high, and students in these programs compete well in state and national competitions. From band, drama, and choir to robotics, National History Day, and student journalism, our local students regularly place among the best of the best.
Of course, last week the Yellowjackets defeated Oxford High School in the Little Egg Bowl...again!
The point is that public education in Oktibbeha County is better than ever and moving in a positive direction. The school board that has presided over this unprecedented success deserves praise for steering our district through a challenging time and taking the district to new heights. It is a great time to be a Starkville Yellowjacket!
Brother Rogers works at the Stennis Center for Public Service and is a guest columnist for the Starkville Daily News.