Missouri Schools Launch New A-F Grading Pilot Program

The state's new pilot program assigns letter grades to public districts using performance data from recent school years.

Updated on Oct. 30, 2026 in Administration

Isometric editorial illustration of a single wooden school desk in an empty room, representing the Missouri school district grading pilot. — The Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education has launched a pilot program to grade public school districts using standardized metrics. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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Do you believe an A-F letter grade accurately reflects the quality of your local public schools?

The Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education has introduced a pilot A-F grading system for public schools statewide. Developed under an executive order from Governor Mike Kehoe, the system incorporates standardized test scores, graduation rates, and student readiness metrics.

Why it matters

This initiative aims to provide a simplified assessment of district performance alongside the state's existing Annual Performance Report. It follows an executive order issued in January 2026 to increase accountability and transparency in Missouri public education.

The pilot grading system utilizes student performance data from the 2024-25 and 2025-26 school years to assign school marks. Perry County School District 32 noted improvement in 16 of its 19 tested assessment areas during the most recent term.

The players

Mike Kehoe

He serves as the Governor of Missouri and issued the executive order that initiated the development of the new school grading pilot program.

Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education

This state agency is responsible for overseeing public schools in Missouri and developed the A-F grading system pilot.

Perry County School District 32

This local school district is preparing to receive and share report card data generated by the state's new pilot grading system.

The details

The state board developed this system to calculate grades based on standardized test scores, four-year graduation rates, and measures of post-graduation readiness. The grading methodology functions as a pilot program running parallel to the established Annual Performance Report system.

January 2026: Governor Kehoe issued an executive order regarding school grading.
2024-25 school year: The data period for the initial pilot grades.
2025-26 school year: The data period for the second set of pilot grades.
November 2026: The expected release of 2024-25 school year grades.
Spring 2027: The scheduled release of 2025-26 school year grades.

Culture Shift

The introduction of an A-F scale mirrors a broader trend in educational accountability that relies on simplified letter grades to communicate school quality. This pilot program operates alongside the established Annual Performance Report to offer a new perspective on district success.

Parents and residents can expect to see new letter grades for their local school districts as the state releases pilot results over the coming months. These grades serve as a new tool for families to evaluate the academic performance and readiness outcomes of their local schools.

The takeaway

The implementation of this pilot program marks a shift toward more accessible performance metrics for Missouri public education. Residents should monitor upcoming grade releases to better understand how their specific district compares under the new criteria.