By At the W.K. Kellogg Foundation (WKKF), we believe that communities know best how to shape the future for their children. When local leaders, families and educators work together, they create lasting opportunities for students to succeed. In Jackson, Miss., a locally driven partnership is showing what’s possible when innovation, accountability and community commitment come together.
Problem:
In 2017, Jackson Public Schools (JPS)—the second-largest school district in Mississippi—faced significant academic and operational challenges, earning an “F” rating from the state. While traditional interventions were considered, local leaders recognized that real, sustainable improvement would come from within the community itself—with families and educators leading the way.
Solution:
Recognizing the need for a different approach, then Mississippi Gov. Phil Bryant, Jackson Mayor Chokwe Antar Lumumba, JPS and WKKF partnered to establish the Better Together Commission. This 15-member independent group, comprising educators, parents, community organizations and faith leaders, was tasked with engaging the community to develop a comprehensive plan for the district’s transformation.
Over 18 months, the commission facilitated extensive community engagement, including listening sessions across all city wards, youth summits, stakeholder meetings and a citywide canvassing effort. These activities informed a comprehensive, student-centered study that provided 51 specific recommendations to address the district’s challenges and leverage its strengths. The resulting five-year strategic plan, released in 2019, focused on academic excellence, family engagement and operational efficiency. With support from partners like WKKF, JPS invested in leadership development, expanded family partnerships and implemented systems to track progress and results.
Impact:
Today, Jackson Public Schools is achieving measurable gains:
- The district’s state accountability rating improved from an “F” in 2017 to a “C” in 2023.
- Graduation rates rose from approximately 70% in 2016-2017 to over 83% in 2024-2025, reflecting stronger academic supports.
- English Language Arts proficiency increased from 19.6% in 2016–2017 to 55.1% in 2024–2025.
- Math proficiency more than doubled—from 14.2% in 2016–2017 to 29.5% in 2022–2023.
“Have we arrived?” asked JPS Superintendent Dr. Errick Greene during a press conference in 2022. “Absolutely not. We’re not even close. As proud as we are of what we’ve achieved, we’re not even close to where we will be as we continue our trek toward excellence. But our commitment to excellence is definitely paying off.”
Greene has been nationally recognized for his transformative leadership of the school district, including receiving the Josephine E. Hill Superintendent Award from the National Alliance of Black School Educators and being named a finalist for the Green-Garner Award, one of the highest honors in urban education.
By investing in local leadership, encouraging family engagement and maintaining a focus on accountability and student success, Jackson Public Schools is building a stronger future for all its students.
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