District 32 Community,
The Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) is introducing a pilot system that assigns A-F letter grades to the state’s public schools and districts. This system was developed by the State Board of Education in response to Governor Mike Kehoe’s January executive order.
In the rollout of this pilot, DESE will retroactively assign A-F grades for each of the last two school years based on student performance data. The release of these grades will be staggered:
Grades for 2024-25 will be released in the next month
Grades for 2025-26 will be released in the spring
As soon as grades are released, we will share our grades with you. It is important to keep in mind the first A-F grades you will see are based on data from two years ago and are not an indication of current student performance. Here in District 32, our students made incredible gains last year that will not be reflected in the initial release. Our students improved in 16 out of 19 tested areas (MAP and EOC) for 2025-26, but we won’t know whether those gains improve our A-F grades until the spring release.
What are the A-F grades based on?
The pilot A-F grading system is tied to standardized test scores, four-year graduation rates, and success-ready graduate performance. DESE has specified the A-F system is not intended as an accountability measure to replace the Annual Performance Report (APR) — which is a more holistic measure that considers academic performance in addition to continuous school improvement efforts.
Below are some helpful links that give a breakdown of the grading process as well as some Frequently Asked Questions about the A-F system.
We want to stress that this A-F grading system is a work in progress. The system might change over time, and our grades might shift in response to those changes.
Our Message to the D32 Community
A grade on a paper can tell us something about a student’s performance at a particular moment, but it cannot tell us the whole story. It doesn't capture all the effort a student puts in, the progress they have made, the challenges they have overcome, or the potential they carry.
Just as we remind our students that a single letter grade does not define who they are, a state-assigned grade does not define District 32 or our schools. A letter grade cannot measure the heart and dedication our teachers and staff bring to campus each morning, the strong relationships built within our schools, or the personal growth our students achieve every day.
Whatever grade our district and individual schools receive under this new system, we will accept it as feedback — a tool to help us celebrate successes, address challenges, and keep pushing forward to deliver the best possible education for every child in our community.
With Gratitude,
Dr. Fara Jones
Superintendent
Perry County School District 32