About Our District

The District of Innovation status gives the Oxford School District flexibility to create non-traditional learning environments, employ creative funding strategies, and expand curriculum choices. This provides the flexibility to meet goals and performance targets in the following areas:

• Reducing achievement gaps by expanding learning experiences for students who are academically low-achieving
• Increasing participation in various curriculum and instructional components and instructional components to enhance student achievement
• Increasing the number of students who are college-and-career ready and reduce the number of students that exit high school in need of remediation
• Expanding curriculum choices and learning opportunities for all students

In April 2018, Oxford School District framed a new vision for the district- defining what skills, traits and abilities that our students must possess to succeed in the 21st century. The Portrait of a Graduate serves as the guide for system transformation and is collective vision for students, teachers, parents, and community stakeholders. For more information, visit oxfordsd.org/portrait.

In 2015, The Oxford School District began implementing Standards Based Grading slowly and methodically to replace the traditional grading system. Traditional grading often measures many factors such as homework, extra credit, attendance, behavior, etc. and sometimes compares how well students do in relation to their classmates. Standards-based grading measures how well an individual student is doing in relation to each grade-level standard or skill.

The Oxford School District is recognized by the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards for having over 68 of National Board Certified Teachers on staff. Only two districts in Mississippi have received this status.

College & Career Readiness

The Oxford School District excels in academic preparation for college. With the highest college-readiness rate in Mississippi of 71.4%, Oxford High School boasts an average ACT composite score of 21, offers 19 Advanced Placement Courses, and provides robust preparation for earning college-credit while in high school. The district values providing focused educational pathways for all OSD students to explore career interests, and to help students discover all of their opportunities after high school. Through Career-Technical Education, The Scholastic Institute, and dual enrollment, the district is positioned to meet the diverse needs of all students. In 2019, the Oxford School District launched a new vision for Career-Technical Education in the district. Pathway courses offered include: Carpentry, Television & Broadcast Production, Business, Marketing & Finance, Teacher Academy, Health Sciences & Sports Medicine, Culinary Arts, Information Technology, Law & Public Safety, Manufacturing, Engineering, Automotive Services.The district offers students a well-rounded experience in award-winning extracurricular opportunities in athletics, performing arts, visual arts, speech & debate.

Whole Child Initiative

One of every four American students has been exposed to at least one traumatic event, identified as Adverse Childhood Experience (ACE). Traumatic experiences hamper a child's capacity to manage stress, learn, and interact with others in helpful ways, which affects school and classroom culture. The Oxford School District has embraced the whole child approach as the path toward equipping its entire staff with deeper understanding and valuable tools to serve children and families impacted by trauma. From bus drivers and cafeteria workers, teachers to coaches, the entire staff has and will continue receive training on the prevalence, principles, and strategies of trauma responsive care.

Conscious Discipline

Conscious Discipline is a leader in classroom management that provides a transformational, whole-school solution for social-emotional learning, discipline and self-regulation. Conscious Discipline is an evidence-based, trauma-informed approach that provides an array of behavior management strategies and classroom structures that teachers can use to turn everyday situations into learning opportunities. In 2018-2019, Bramlett Elementary teachers received training and began to integrate social-emotional learning, discipline and self-regulation in their classrooms so they spend less time policing behavior and more time teaching vital life skills.

Number of Certified Employees	433
Number of Classified Employees	218
Teachers with Advanced Degrees	228
National Board Certified Faculty	86
Graduation Rate	86.6%
Acceleration Rate	101.5%
Average Daily Attendance	91.24%
Average ACT Composite	21
Per-pupil Expenditure	$12,360
Total Operational Tax Levy	51.83 mills
Debt Service Tax Levy	9.68 mills

The rolling hills of North Mississippi are a scenic and charming backdrop for Oxford, a small town with a big city feel. With a population of 26,430, Oxford has been named one of the best places to live in the southeast. Touted as the “Cultural Mecca of the South,” creativity abounds as musicians, artists, and writers alike find inspiration in Oxford’s rich history, small town charm and creative community. Oxford has also been known for offering exceptional culinary experiences and as the home of the University of Mississippi and the Ole Miss Rebels, there is always something here to immerse yourself in. Oxford has become a destination for travelers in the southeast. It’s vibrant culture radiates from the historic Square to Rowan Oak, the home of William Faulkner.