What to know about Missouri's upcoming A-F grading system for public schools.
Joplin Schools families,
In the coming weeks, the state plans to release letter grades for all public schools in Missouri. We want you to hear the details from us, along with what the grades mean.
About the Rating
The Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) is developing its first pilot A–F grades for public schools, created under an executive order Governor Mike Kehoe signed in January.
Because these grades will be a pilot version and are based on the 2024-25 school year, they are not final. We fully expect the state’s framework to change over time, and as it does, our grade may change too. This grade will be one measure among many we already incorporate into our accountability practices, including state assessments and Missouri APR accreditation scores. We have shared concerns with the state about how quickly this system was developed and its parameters going forward, and we will continue to do so.
We Are Accountable to You First
You've told us what matters most to you in our schools, through surveys, conversations, focus groups, board meetings, and more, and we've acted on it.
We learned what qualities and traits our community feels are important for our students to have, so we built our Portrait of a Graduate and are incorporating those elements into everyday learning at every grade level. We learned what parents and staff said our educational facilities should include to ensure every student has access to a safe, modern learning environment, and thanks to the community’s support of the Eagle Bond last April, big changes are underway at most of our elementary schools and at JHS. We’ve heard and supported our community’s high academic expectations, which have led to big improvements in state testing scores across all grades and all subjects in the past 3 years.
You also deserve a full, current picture of how our schools are doing. Here are a few things we're proud of:
- JHS saw a 97% graduation rate for the class of 2026, the highest in district history.
- 2026-26 state assessment scores in ELA, Math, Science, and Government exceed Missouri’s on-track measures, including for our at-risk students.
- Joplin Schools is proud to maintain one of the highest base teacher salaries in Southwest Missouri public schools.
For an even more in-depth look at the great work happening across Joplin Schools, we encourage you to visit our Complete Report Card.
Even the most carefully designed state rating has its limits, because it cannot see what you see every day. As a parent, you have firsthand knowledge of the people who teach your child, the environment they learn in, and how far they have come over the years. We see our role as your partner in that work, joining with you to help your child reach their goals and do their very best. The Executive Branch in Jefferson City may choose to label schools with letter grades or with some other system entirely, but our purpose stays the same. We remain dedicated to the local approach we have shaped together, including the relationships, structures, and priorities designed around the students and families of our community.
Every child who enrolls with us is welcome, no matter what needs they bring, what their life looks like outside school, or where they begin academically. Embracing all of those students is central to our identity as a public school. It is also why no single grade, however it is calculated, could ever fully capture the work happening in our buildings or the dedication of the educators who have chosen to do it.
We are grateful to work alongside you. Each day, our teachers and staff focus on helping every student move forward, and we will continue to share updates with you as the year goes on.
Sincerely,
Dr. Kerry Sachetta
Superintendent
Joplin Schools