Hickman Mills set to petition Missouri Education leaders for full accreditation

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (KCTV) - Hickman Mills leaders are set to make their case on why their school district deserves full accreditation after the reclassification of another opened the door.

Hickman Mills C-1 School District has announced that on Tuesday, March 4, it will petition the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education for full accreditation. District officials are eager to show why HMC-1 has “Made the Grade.”

For years, district leaders said HMC-1 has shown progress in student achievement and now has a 75.2% Annual Performance Report, which has risen from 72.7% since November.

At the Department of Education’s January meeting, Hickman Mills said recommended a classification change. The State Board of Education approved the change in accreditation status for the Success R-VI School District outside the normal timeline originally presented.

District officials indicated that the move provided them a chance to have its accreditation status reviewed and changed in the same manner based on progress and the Board’s willingness to recognize growth.

“Our students and our staff have continuously worked toward this goal. I am excited for them that it is finally coming to fruition. It demonstrates that if you are relentless in doing the hard work and stay disciplined, you will eventually be rewarded,” Yaw Obeng, Hickman Mills Superintendent, said. “We have ‘Made the Grade’ according to the MSIP 6 framework, and we’ve ‘Made the Grade’ according to the DESE criterion used for Success R-VI school district that moved from provisional to full accreditation last month. We have executed every parameter over the last several years and have built up to this moment; now it’s our time!”

According to Hickman Mills, full accreditation carries significant implications for the entire area. With a reclassification to full accreditation, this would be the first time in nearly two decades that all metro area districts are fully accredited.

District leaders said they believe the achievement would elevate the region’s educational standing, and make it more competitive and attractive to businesses, families and investments to Missouri’s growth and development goals.

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