The countdown has begun for students, faculty, staff and administrators in the Senatobia Municipal and Tate County School Districts to return to classes for the 2025-26 school year.
Both districts made the decision to ditch flexible school calendars this fall after a two-year run and return to traditional calendars due to a lack of grant funding.
Senatobia Municipal School District, which earned a “B” in the 2023-24 Mississippi Department of Education (MDE) accountability ratings, is looking forward to another year of growth, achievement and progress across all campuses, according to Superintendent Chris Fleming.
“We are entering this school year with purpose, passion and pride,” Fleming said. “The academic gains we’re seeing, the progress on our campuses, and the growing connections between our schools and community all point to a bright future for our students.”
Fleming pointed out Senatobia High School is starting the year on a high note with a notable increase in graduation rate and substantial gains in ACT scores among graduates – clear indicators that student learning outcomes are moving in the right direction.
Senatobia Middle School has made impressive strides in English Language Arts with significant growth across all grade levels., according to Fleming. He said Senatobia Elementary continues to build momentum in early literacy maintaining its leadership in Mississippi’s Science of Reading implementation and results.
Fleming is excited about several improvement projects in the Senatobia School District funded by a $9.4 million bond approved by taxpayers in March.
The elementary school car rider line has been redesigned for greater efficiency and safety. Security upgrades are underway across all campuses with new fencing and gates in the works to provide addtional safety for students and staff.
Renovations at Varner Field and the track complex on Matthews Drive will elevate the experience for student-athletes and fans. The goal of the front entrance expansion at the high school is to enhance campus access and aesthetics.
“We are actively updating our district strategic plan to ensure continued excellence and long-term growth,” Fleming explained. “The district is also expanding its student internship and career pathway partnerships with the Senatobia community to open doors for real-world experience and life-readiness for students.”
Tate County School District, which earned a “C” in 2023-24 MDE accountability ratings, is constantly adapting to ensure students are using the resources available for a quality education.
“We're starting the new school year in TCSD with a clear vision and intentional steps toward long-term growth,” said Superintendent Alee Dixon. “We’re excited to begin planning for a districtwide Pre-K program set to launch in the 2026 school year.”
Tate County Schools is receiving $125,000 per classroom over the next three years to create a new State Invested Pre-K (SIP) program and partner with Head Start to provide additional services to children in the program. Dixon said the plan is to begin a district Pre‑K class at Coldwater in fall 2026 before expanding the program to Strayhorn and East Tate in the coming years.
“This year also brings the addition of driver’s education at both high schools offering students valuable real-world skills,” Dixon explained. “Even with reduced federal funding, we remain focused on smart student-centered decisions to keep learning and opportunity at the heart of our vision.”
