RCSD’s Mission is “Bring Everyone Strengths Together,” which intentionally focuses on empowering students to reach their maximum potential by embracing opportunities and challenges, while also cultivating a tradition of distinction in education. RCSD sports a 92.6% graduation rate, compared to the state average of 87.7% of seniors, according to the Mississippi Department of Education.
Hinton said the college readiness journey for RSCD high school students begins in ninth grade, and the key to the district’s success is having an implemented calendar and structure that guides students from freshman to senior year.
Freshmen take a practice test through MasteryPrep Practice Test & Analysis for the ACT, which now features three official ACT® practice tests.
For students who score high on Math and Reading, the real ACT is suggested, along with an opt-in for the PSAT. Detailed reports from MasteryPrep Practice Testing also give teachers skill metrics, insights into students’ strengths and weaknesses, and data-driven recommendations to boost outcomes. Freshmen are also introduced to Bell Ringers for the ACT (daily warm-up exercises) and The College Playbook, a guide to the college application and admission process.
RCSD pays for all sophomores to take the ACT in the spring, and sophomore year is when they also enroll in dual college credit for fall/spring of their junior year.
“When our freshmen and sophomores take the ACT for the first time, that’s when we begin to track the real data, so we have a baseline of how they improve throughout high school,” Hinton says.
RCSD students take the ACT in both the fall and spring of their junior years, while several students opt in to take the ACT WorkKeys in the spring. In the fall, they begin dual enrollment courses and start to work with their counselors on college/career outlooks. In the spring, they begin applying to colleges and/or job shadow in their career of choice.
MasteryPrep’s Curriculum for the ACT is implemented into junior year curriculum, supported by Online Course for the ACT (video lessons), including Study Hall (reinforcement that preps students on skills they need to master). Boot Camps for the ACT provide that final push before test day with a review of strategies and commonly tested topics.
