Carver School gets morale boost
as rating upgraded

By Staff
December 6, 3003
By Georgia E. Frye / staff writer
Faculty, staff and students at Carver Middle School received an early Christmas present when they learned their school's performance level had changed for the better.
The school was notified earlier this year that it was rated a Level 1, or "low-performing" school. But after taking a second look at Mississippi Curriculum Test scores, the state Department of Education notified Superintendent Sylvia Autry that Carver was in fact a Level 2, or an "under-performing" school.
Some of Carver's faculty and staff cried when they got the news because they said it proved some of the programs they put in place were actually working, Autry said.
Autry credited the school's improvement to a dedicated and committed faculty and staff, but added that the district is not satisfied with a Level 2 from any of its schools.
The change in the accreditation level leaves only one Meridian school, Kate Griffin Junior High, in the low-performing Level 1 category. Autry said she hopes all of Meridian's schools are at least a Level 3 during her term as superintendent
Dolly Carter, instructional facilitator at Carver, said she believes test scores improved because teachers are focusing more on reading in the classroom.
Carver Principal Earnest Ward said he was happy to hear the news and he believes Carver is headed in the right direction.
Deputy Superintendent Robert Markham, who was principal at Carver last year, said he believes that Carver is finally getting the recognition that it deserves.