FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
October 27, 2026
Improved school accountability ratings, stronger attendance, and fewer suspensions at Yazoo City High School are providing a foundation for the Yazoo City Municipal School District’s efforts to strengthen instruction and improve student achievement across all schools.
Yazoo City High School improved from a D to a C (within 19 points to be rated a B), while McCoy Elementary School moved from an F to a D. Those gains reflect the hard work of students, teachers, parents, and school leaders.
Attendance figures also show encouraging progress. District average daily attendance increased from 90.1% in September 2025 to 94.04% in September 2026, a gain of 3.94 percentage points. Yazoo City High School posted the largest September increase, rising from 84.39% in 2025 to 91.78% in 2026. Woolfolk Middle School improved from 92.48% to 95.22%, while McCoy Elementary School increased from 93.5% to 95.13%.
August attendance figures showed gains at the middle and high schools as well. Woolfolk’s average daily attendance rose from 93.75% in August 2025 to 95.64% in August 2026, while Yazoo City High School increased from 89.28% to 93.62%. McCoy maintained attendance near 96%, with 96.14% in August 2026 compared with 96.2% the previous August.
These early attendance results are encouraging as the district works to reduce chronic absenteeism and help students benefit from consistent classroom instruction. Schools are strengthening relationships with students and families, identifying attendance concerns early, and helping address barriers that keep students out of school.
Suspension figures offer another encouraging sign at Yazoo City High School. The high school’s reported suspension count fell from 158 in the first term of the 2025–2026 school year to 66 in the first term of the 2026–2027 school year, a reduction of approximately 58%. Woolfolk Middle School’s reported suspension count remained steady at 33. These figures show progress at the high school and stability at the middle school as the district continues working toward safe, engaging learning environments.
The progress comes as the district addresses its overall F accountability rating. Woolfolk Middle School remained an F, making improved academic outcomes there a particular priority. The Yazoo City Municipal School District recognizes its responsibility to help students succeed and the need to extend academic progress to every school.
The district has strengthened its curriculum, improved staffing stability, and expanded support for students. The focus now is ensuring those improvements reach every classroom, every day.
High-quality instruction is central to that effort. The district has invested in coaching to help teachers strengthen their instructional skills, alongside high-dosage remediation to help students address gaps in their learning. The Mississippi Department of Education is providing additional support through literacy and math coaching for teachers at the elementary and middle school levels and leadership coaching at all schools.
District priorities remain improving daily instruction, helping students read on grade level, reducing chronic absenteeism, and maintaining safe schools that are engaging places to learn.
The academic gains at Yazoo City High School and McCoy Elementary, together with overall improved attendance, represent meaningful steps toward district-wide improvement. Having previously earned a C rating under state leadership, the district is working to regain that rating and sustain it.
The next steps require a shared commitment. District and school leaders must ensure teachers have the support and resources to deliver effective instruction, monitor student progress, and adjust support when students struggle. Parents and caregivers can strengthen these efforts by making daily attendance a priority, encouraging students to read more, and setting aside time for reading at home. Reading together, discussing what students are reading, and staying connected with teachers can help families support learning beyond the classroom. Community partners can contribute by expanding access to books and helping schools address barriers to attendance and learning.
Together, schools, families, and the community can turn early gains into lasting progress. That shared work must lead to students in every school attending regularly, reading confidently, and gaining the skills they need for their next steps.