Missouri School Grading System Faces Local Criticism
Stoddard County superintendents say the new A-F pilot program relies too heavily on standardized test scores.
Updated on Oct. 21, 2026 in Administration
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Superintendents in Missouri are pushing back against the state's new pilot A-F school grading system implemented by Governor Mike Kehoe. The system, which assigns letter grades to schools based on standardized test data, has drawn criticism from officials representing eight districts in Stoddard County.
Why it matters
School officials argue that relying on standardized test scores provides an incomplete picture of student performance and district health. This new framework, which supplements existing Annual Performance Reports, may lead to fluctuations in how local schools are perceived by families.
The grading system currently covers eight school districts in Stoddard County and relies on performance data from the 2024-25 school year. It is unknown how the state will adjust the framework in future versions of the pilot program.
The players
Mike Kehoe
The current Governor of Missouri who signed the executive order establishing the new school grading pilot program.
Stoddard County Superintendents
Educational leaders representing eight districts including Advance, Bell City, Bernie, Bloomfield, Dexter, Puxico, Richland, and Woodland.
The details
The new grading system functions by assigning a single letter grade to Missouri districts using standardized test scores as the primary metric. This pilot program operates alongside existing Annual Performance Reports, though superintendents believe this method lacks the necessary breadth to capture total school performance. Officials expect the grading framework to remain in flux as the state adjusts its methodology.
Timeline
January 2026: Governor Mike Kehoe signed the executive order.
2024-2025 school year: Performance data used for pilot grading.
October 21, 2026: Superintendents issued a letter regarding the grading system.
The Home Front
The new A-F grading pilot supplements the existing Annual Performance Report by introducing a single letter-grade format for school districts. This shift marks a change in state-level school oversight that adds another data point for families to navigate when evaluating local education.
Families with students in the affected Stoddard County districts should monitor official district communications for updates on how these pilot grades impact local school rankings. It is worth noting that because the grading framework is expected to fluctuate, initial letter grades may change.
The takeaway
The new grading system is currently in a pilot phase, meaning the state's methodology and resulting school scores remain subject to further adjustments. Families should prioritize long-term engagement with their local school district over singular letter grades.
Further reading
For more information on state policies, visit the Missouri Administration section.
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Should standardized test scores be the primary factor used to grade your local public schools?
