Area school districts have much room for improvement, according to new school district accountability scores released today.

The state Department of Education’s new Statewide Accountability System scores measure districts and individual schools against the rest of the nation. The state’s old five-level rating system only compared districts to others within the state.

The system is based on a district or school’s achievement rate on assessment tests, student growth and graduation rate.

Previously, Mississippi schools and districts were measured against in-state achievement, said Kris Kaase, deputy superintendent of instructional programs.

Now, “to be the highest, the school or district has to be the best among the nation,” Kaase said.

The Columbus Municipal School District overall received an “At Risk of Failing” rating, near the bottom of the rankings — Star, High Performing, Successful, Academic Watch, Low Performing, At Risk of Failing, and Failing. The Lowndes County School District was given an “Academic Watch” rating.

The Columbus and Lowndes rankings mean the districts aren’t performing at a level acceptable to the Department of Education, Kaase said. Schools and districts that receive the failing label will go through an evaluation process with the state, said Kaase.

Statewide, there are 45 districts at risk of failing and eight that are labeled failing.

Tom Burnham, who takes over as state superintendent of education in a few months, said over 50 percent of schools were rated Level 4 or 5 under the old system.

“I have no doubt that we can see dramatic improvement in Mississippi’s schools ...,” Burnham said in a statement. “We have hardworking, dedicated teachers and administrators and talented students who are as bright and capable as students anywhere.”

Among individual Columbus schools, Cook and Fairview elementary schools were rated Successful. Franklin Academy and Sale Elementary, and Lee Middle School, were given Academic Watch ratings. Columbus High, Hunt Intermediate and Stokes-Beard were ranked At Risk of Failing.

Columbus School District Test Coordinator Myra Gillis said in a release that the rankings “contained no real surprises for us.”

“We made gains in some areas and didn’t in others,” she said. “Lee Middle, Cook, and Fairview all met growth. Hunt Intermediate and Lee Middle had higher achievement but Hunt missed growth slightly. Columbus School District administrators and teachers have already spent a considerable amount of time analyzing our test results, as well as the Adequate Yearly Progress Reports from our Statewide Accountability System. We anticipated that our assigned label was going to represent the challenges we are facing.”

Gillis said that the district is implementing programs including new screening programs for students in kindergarten through eighth grade, which give teachers specific information about individual students’ performance.

The district’s Success Academy extended school-year schedules at Sale and Stokes-Beard elementary schools, which began this school year, and Freshman Academy, a program to help middle schoolers transition to high school, are also intended to boost student learning, the district said.

Among Lowndes schools, Caledonia Elementary was ranked High Performing. Caledonia High, New Hope High and New Hope Middle schools were ranked Successful. West Lowndes High, Caledonia Middle, and New Hope Elementary were ranked Academic Watch, while West Lowndes Elementary and West Lowndes Middle schools were ranked At Risk of Failing.

Lowndes County Superintendent of Education Mike Halford said the district is not pleased with the scores.

“In the past we have compared ourselves to other districts around us including Starkville and West Point. All districts have to realize with this new system, we are also competing with schools throughout the country. We are not where we need to be, but we will get there,” he said.

The Starkville School District received an Academic Watch ranking as well. Oktibbeha County was labeled At Risk of Failing.

In the Starkville district, Henderson Intermediate and Starkville High were ranked Successful. Armstrong Middle and Ward-Stewart were called At Risk of Failing.

“We are focusing on the children who are on the border of minimal to basic skills, and helping them move on to the next level,” Starkville School District Superintendent of Education Judy Couey said.

In the areas where the schools did not meet growth, Couey said the teachers are working with the students who need help to improve their scores in math and other subjects.

“We want to work with each student to help achieve their best and give them the chance to move on,” she said.

Among Oktibbeha County schools, East Oktibbeha High and East Oktibbeha Elementary were both labeled At Risk of Failing, while West Oktibbeha High and West Oktibbeha Elementary were given a Failing grade.

Oktibbeha County Superintendent James Covington said his district is taking a stronger role in improving reading scores by having former teachers work with the students as reading tutors.

“We are doing a lot of individualized intensive intervention for each students. We have revamped our reading program for grades 4-8. Through this individualized work, this should help our students improve in math and other areas,” he said.

Clay County Superintendent Mae Brewer said she is thrilled at the results of the report, which rated her district “Successful.” She credits the teachers and administration for their work.

“Our principal, Sandra Murray, stays in the classrooms 50 percent of the time. This gives her a chance for one-on-one interaction with the students,” Brewer said. “Our students have the materials and technology they need to help them.”

West Point School District Assistant Superintendent of Curriculum Robin Miles said all her district’s schools are working hard to improve themselves, as the district received an “At Risk of Failing” rating.

“We are poised on a place to move forward,” Miles said. “We have talked with administrators, and we are looking at ways to get better. The schools have been working on a plan of action, and each one is different. We want to help teachers any way we can,” she said.

Under the new system, thirty-four schools were labeled star, 142 high-performing and 217 successful.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.