Jackson-Madison County School System (JMCSS) leaders celebrated the district’s surge in graduation rates outpacing the state’s improvement.From 2021, the district’s graduation rates grew from 85.7 percent to 90.5 percent. This 4.8 percent gain surpasses Tennessee’s gain of 1.9 percent by nearly three percentage points during the same period of time.That growth places JMCSS’s graduation rate just .1 percent lower than the state average.¶
“Whether it’s the number of Level 4 and 5 schools at the elementary level and middle school levels over the last two years or our rising graduation rate at the high school level, our students continue to prove to the community and the state that this district is focused on making academic progress,” said Deputy Superintendent Vivian Williams.District leaders credited the graduation rate improvements to the dedicated work of the high school graduation coaches and the strategic use of Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief Fund (ESSER) funds. These COVID-19 emergency relief dollars helped fund credit recovery programs like Edmentum.JMCSS employees identified students with potential graduation problems and worked with district leaders to eliminate barriers to obtaining a diploma.“The Jackson-Madison County School System looks forward to building upon this momentum. Our schools will continue to foster environments where every student not only graduates but does so with the skills and knowledge needed for a successful future,” wrote the district.“The value of a JMCSS diploma continues to hold significance as students are graduating with college credit, industry certifications, and with work experience in many cases that open up possibilities after graduation, including post-secondary and career options,” said Chief Academic Officer Tiffany Spight.¶
