Executive Summary of School System Profile
Lowndes County School District
Lowndes County, Mississippi
Vision
The vision of the Lowndes County School District is to provide a superior educational
system that challenges all students to attain their greatest intellectual, social, and
personal potential.
Mission
Challenge all students to attain their greatest potential.
Goals
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Improve student performance on all state assessments
Become more proficient with the Teacher Support Team (TST) process
Continue to improve the District Leadership Team process
Decrease the drop-out rate, increase the graduation rate
Increase communication with all stakeholders
Description of Programs and Services
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Number and Type of schools:
 Three high schools (grades 9-12)
 Three middle schools (grades 6-8)
 Three elementary schools (grades K-5)
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Programs and Services:
 Advanced Placement Courses
 Biology
 Calculus
 Chemistry
 English Composition
 English Literature
 Studio Art
 U.S. History
 Statistics
 Physics
 Pre-AP in all core areas in middle schools
 Athletic Programs
 Baseball
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 Basketball
 Cheerleading
 Cross Country
 Football
 Golf
 Power Lifting
 Slow/Fast Pitch Softball
 Soccer
 Tennis
 Track
Dual Enrollment/Dual Credit
Federal Programs
 Alternative Education
 Assessment and Diagnostic Programs
 Tutoring
 Read 180 and Failure Free Reading
 Safe and Drug Free
 Parent Coordinators
 Tutor and Assessment Coordinators
 Computer Labs
Fine Arts Program
 Art
 Band
 Chorus
 Drama
 K-5 Music
Gifted Education (MERIT)
Special Needs Services
Student Organizations
Summer Enrichment, Extended Year, Credit Recovery
Technology Programs
 Promethean Boards
 Internet Access, Web Page, E-mail
 Web-Based Instructional Programs (SkillsTutor, AR, AM,
Study Island, USATest Prep, Harcourt and Prentice Hall
Math e-textbook, Read 180, Compass Learning,
SuccessMaker, A+, Failure Free)
 Web-Based Universal Screening (AIMSweb)
 Web-based Assessment and Tracking (SPMS, EZ Test
Tracker)
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 ALERTNOW Parent Notification System
Tutoring Programs-Supplemental Education, Advanced Placement,
After-School Remedial, Extended Year
Vocational Programs at each high school
Demographics of District’s Community
Lowndes County covers a 502 square mile area in northeast Mississippi ten miles west
of the Alabama state line. The county’s racial makeup is 56% Caucasian, 42% AfricanAmerican, and 2% other. Lowndes County has a healthy economy based on trade,
industry, education, technology, transportation, agriculture, and military training. In
recent years, Lowndes County has experienced considerable industrial economic
growth which has increased the county school’s tax base. The Lowndes County School
District is the 19th largest in the state and is one of two school districts in the county.
Lowndes County School District
Student Enrollment
Caledonia Elementary
Caledonia Middle
Caledonia High
New Hope Elementary
New Hope Middle
New Hope High
West Lowndes Elementary
West Lowndes Middle
West Lowndes High
Total
968
460
562
1282
666
883
220
137
218
5391
Lowndes County School District
Average Class Size
Caledonia Elementary
Caledonia Middle
Caledonia High
New Hope Elementary
New Hope Middle
New Hope High
West Lowndes Elementary
West Lowndes Middle
West Lowndes High
Average
Lowndes County School District
Employees
Superintendent
1
Assistant Superintendents
2
Principals
9
Assistant Principals
10
Central Office Supervisors
8
Teachers
379
Counselors
11
Librarians
8
Secretary/Bookkeepers
39
22
14
17
19
18
18
13
13
15
17
Assistant Teachers
Central Office Staff
All Other
Total
71
8
163
710
‘
Lowndes County School District
Advanced Degrees
Doctorate
6
Educational Specialist
11
Masters
142
National Board Certification
38
Assessment Data
Background
Lowndes County School District students participate in all state assessments. Results
are available in the summer following the school year. Students are assessed in grades
3-8 in Language Arts and Mathematics on the Mississippi Curriculum Test 2 (MCT2).
Scores include mean scale scores and percent advanced, proficient, basic, and minimal.
Students in grades 4 and 7 are assessed on a narrative writing test. Scores are reported
as mean scale scores. Students in grades 5 and 8 are assessed on a science test. Scores
include mean scale scores and percent advanced, proficient, basic, and minimal.
Students in grades 8-12 are assessed on Subject Area Tests (SATP) in Algebra I, Biology
I, English II, English II Narrative Writing, and U.S. History. Scores include mean scale
scores and percent passing.
Summary of Major Strengths and Needs of the District
 Strengths
o District-wide commitment to student achievement
o Programs to meet the wide range of needs of students
o School improvement plan and process in place at each school and in
the district
o Effective and continuous professional development opportunities at
the local, state, and national levels that provide continuing education
credits and opportunities to obtain Master’s Degrees
o Valued partnerships between District and community (Columbus Air
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Force Base, Mississippi University for Women, Mississippi State
University, East Mississippi Community College, Columbus Municipal
School District, and local businesses)
Safe and orderly environment
State of the art technological infrastructure (Promethean Boards, Web
Based Instruction including Skills Tutor, Accelerated Reader,
Accelerated Math, Study Island, USA Test Prep, AIMSWeb, Tech Prep
Labs, Read 180, Failure Free Reading, Hot Chalk)
Strong desire for continuous improvement reflected through higher
degrees
Ongoing maintenance and upgrades to facilities and grounds
In-school tutoring (remediation and enrichment)
District wide open communication
Sensitivity to the needs of the community (Relay for Life, United Way)
 Needs
o Increase student achievement
o Increase graduation rate and decrease dropout rate
o Develop proficiency in the Teacher Support Team (TST) process
o Challenge instructors to use a variety of teaching methods
o Increase attendance rate
o Increase two-way communication