By Rupert Howell
Four of five schools tested in the South Panola School District showed signs of improvement in their Quality of Distribution Index (QDI) compared to the previous year with South Panola High School showing a sharp decrease covering the 2011-12 school year.

Batesville Junior High School showed significant improvement in that area gaining 19 points from 141 the previous year to 160 last year.

South Panola High School fell from 182 to 153, a drop of 29 QDI points.

District-wide South Panola’s QDI improved from 147 to 153, nine points below the state’s average of 162.

Students in grades 3-8 are tested in basic areas of study with the Mississippi Curriculum Test 2 (MCT2) and graded either Minimum, Basic, Proficient or Advanced. Multipliers of zero through three are used, with Minimum receiving 0 and Advanced using three, to average scores to get QDI. High school students’ scores are derived from subject area testing.

Some brighter spots included Batesville Junior High’s 7th and 8th grade math scores with students scoring 73 percent Proficient or Advanced.

Not to be outdone were Pope School’s 6th grade math students that scored 78 percent Proficient or above, 17.65 percent scoring Advanced.

South Panola’s schools scored the following QDI followed by points above (+) or below (-) last year: Batesville Intermediate, 164, +5; Batesville Middle, 146,+5; Batesville Junior High,160, +19; Pope Elementary, 149, +4 and SPHS, 153, -29; SP District, 153, +6.

District Superintendent Dr. Keith Shaffer is expected to review test score data tonight at the monthly board of trustee meeting at the school’s Parent Center Building on College Street that begins at 7 p.m.