Missouri Schools Launch Pilot A-F Grading System
The new system provides families with letter grades to evaluate performance across Missouri public school districts.
Updated on Oct. 30, 2026 in Administration
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Missouri has launched a pilot A-F grading system for public schools and districts to evaluate performance. The program, which uses data from the previous two school years, affects families with students currently enrolled in the state's public education system.
Why it matters
This new grading framework aims to provide a more standardized evaluation of school performance, directly impacting how families assess the quality and outcomes of their local educational institutions. It follows an executive order from Governor Mike Kehoe issued in January 2026 to increase accountability.
The system utilizes standardized test scores, four-year graduation rates, and post-graduation readiness to determine letter grades. Perry County School District 32 recorded improvements in 16 of 19 tested assessment areas during the 2025-26 school year.
The players
Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education
The state agency responsible for overseeing public school administration and educational standards.
Governor Mike Kehoe
The current Governor of Missouri who issued the executive order to develop the A-F grading system.
Perry County School District 32
A local Missouri district preparing to receive and share the new performance grades with its community.
The details
The grading methodology retroactively assigns marks based on student performance data from the two school years prior to the current term. These grades operate in conjunction with existing Annual Performance Reports, offering a simplified letter-based summary of complex educational benchmarks. The system remains under active development and may be adjusted as the state evaluates the pilot results.
Timeline
January 2026: Governor Kehoe issued the executive order for the system.
2024-25 school year: Data period for the initial pilot grades.
2025-26 school year: Data period for the second set of pilot grades.
November 2026: Anticipated release of 2024-25 school year grades.
Spring 2027: Scheduled release of 2025-26 school year grades.
The Home Front
This transition marks a shift in how Missouri reports school performance, moving toward a simplified letter-grade format for state-wide accountability. The program follows directives to integrate more transparent metrics alongside existing performance reporting standards.
Families should watch for upcoming grade releases to better understand the performance metrics of their specific school districts. Parents can review these results in November 2026 to see how their student's district measures up under the new state criteria.
The takeaway
The new grading system provides a streamlined view of student performance metrics across the state. Families should prepare to review their district's upcoming letter grade as an additional tool for assessing local educational progress.
Further reading
Learn more about local school governance at Administration.
Source note: This article includes information reported by KBSI FOX23 News Cape Girardeau News | Paducah News.
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Do you believe an A-F letter grade accurately reflects the quality of your local public schools?
