Lincoln County schools received good grades under new accountability ratings released today, with one local school being among only a few in the state to score an A.

     The Lincoln County School District earned a grade of B, or High Performing, as a whole under the state’s grading system. That grade was the highest in the area, outscoring area school districts of Franklin County, North Pike, McComb, Copiah County, Hazlehurst, Lawrence County and Brookhaven.

     The news became even better when West Lincoln Attendance Center was announced as an A, or Star, school in the ratings. The good grade followed West Lincoln’s recently being named as a National Blue Ribbon School by the U.S. Department of Education.

     Other grades at county schools included a C, or Successful, at Bogue Chitto Attendance Center; a B, or High Performing, at Enterprise Attendance Center; and a D, or Academic Watch, at Loyd Star Attendance Center.

     Lincoln County Superintendent Terry Brister said the B rating was one they’ve been working toward. The district has never been a High Performing district, but has shown consistent improvement over the past few years, going from Successful in 2010-2011 to High Performing in 2011-2012.

     “It’s something we’ve been striving for since I’ve been in office,” he said of the new rating. “We try to get the most out our schools. Each school has been working diligently toward academic improvement for state testing and community satisfaction.”

     Brister said the growth the district showed would not have been possible had it not been for those on the front lines.

     “I think the faculty and administration on the local level have done very well and worked very hard,” said Brister. “They’re the ones working in the trenches every day.”

     Brister also noted community support of academics at the schools.

     West Lincoln’s success has not been a recent development, said Brister.

     “They’ve been a High Performing school for seven years now,” he said. “It’s not an overnight process, it really takes a lot of work. Their staff and administration needs to be commended for a job well done over a long period of time.”

     West Lincoln Principal Jason Case compared the school’s climb to an A rating to that of climbing a mountain.

     “It’s a great achievement,” said Case. “We’ve been shooting for it for many years. We’ve always talked about getting to the top of the mountain, and I guess you can say we’re there now. I’ve always told our teachers to get there you take one step at a time.”

     Case said everything that helped West Lincoln to become a Blue Ribbon School also helped it become an A school.

     “Success doesn’t come easy,” he said. “When I say it’s a mountain, they’re hard to climb. Once you get (to the top), it’s hard to stay there. Success is not easy, but it’s never final either.”

     Case attributed a major part of the school’s success to God.

     “God has provided for us,” said Case. “I want to thank Him for our success at West Lincoln.”

     Case congratulated his students and said their work in school goes beyond the classroom walls.

     “I’d like to commend our students for their hard work in the classroom,” he said. “I tell the students as they go to school, they’re writing their own resume. They’re the CEO of their resume; what goes on that resume is determined by what they do in the classroom.”

     After this year’s successful report for Lincoln County schools, some might think it’s time to relax. Brister is not one of them.

     “This just means the bar goes up,” he said. “We always aim to improve.”