The Lowndes County School District received more than approval from a visiting regional accreditation team Wednesday.

During an oral report from the Quality Assurance Review team representing the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, QAR team spokeswoman Donna H. Henderson praised the district's report as "one of the best I've ever looked at."

The report was prepared by district employees to outline the programs implemented to comply with SACS accreditation standards. Henderson, who has 15 years experience reviewing schools for accreditation, said the report was remarkably thorough.

"There's just so many things going on here," she said.

LCSD Superintendent Mike Halford said those statements are accurate and earned.

"(The report) is nothing more than what we're actually doing to better the education of our children," he said.

At the end of the QAR team's presentation to a special meeting of the LCSD school board, Henderson revealed the team's intention to recommend the district receive accreditation. The recommendation will go through the SACS national office in Decatur, Ga., and the LCSD should hear back from SACS in February.

The team also praised the LCSD for low teacher turnover, low pupil-to-teacher ratio, excellent use of instructional technology and improving the district's graduation rate from 72 percent in 2008 to 87 percent in 2009.

The improvement ranks LCSD first in the area in graduation rate ahead of Columbus Municipal schools (86 percent), West Point (85 percent), Oktibbeha County (82 percent) and Starkville (77 percent).

Lowndes ranks behind only Oktibbeha in average class size. Oktibbeha boasts a 14-to-1 student-to-teacher ratio while Lowndes has an average class size of 17 students. West Point averages 20 students for each teacher and Starkville schools average 26 students.

But the QAR team's job also includes pointing out needed improvements, and Henderson said 87 percent, while an improvement, isn't high enough.

"If 13 percent aren't graduating, are they contributing to society?" Henderson asked.

She suggested a GED program, which the LCSD has partnered with Columbus Municipal School District to provide, and expanding vocational offerings.

"We need mechanics, masonry people, people in health occupations, even child care. Let's get them a diploma and, at the same time, get them a skill," said Henderson.

Edna McGill, assistant superintendent of curriculum and instruction for LCSD, said the GED program and teacher support teams already are identifying and assisting students at risk of dropping out.

The QAR team also recommended the LCSD do more to engage stakeholders as a fundraising source and create an external marketing plan to better promote the district's progress.

Halford agreed the district can do more, beyond SACS accreditation.

"We're not where we need to be and we're not where we're going to be," he said.