A letter from Mr. Scott Gemes, Superintendent
October 20th, 2026
Wildcat Family,
I had the opportunity to attend the Missouri State Board of Education meeting today. Many important topics were discussed, but there is one in particular that I want to share with our Wildcat Family.
As early as the December State Board meeting, or shortly thereafter, you may begin seeing information about a new A–F letter grading system for Missouri public schools. Before these grades are released, I want you to hear directly from us about what this system is and what it means for our district.
Understanding the New A–F Rating System
The Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) is developing a new A–F school grading system following an executive order signed by Governor Mike Kehoe in January 2026.
The initial grades are part of a pilot program, meaning the system is still being developed and refined. These preliminary grades are expected to use data from the 2024–2025 school year. As the state continues to make changes to the framework, a school's grade could change even when the underlying student performance remains the same. We saw examples of some of those potential changes at today's meeting.
It is important to remember that a single letter grade is only one measure of a school district's overall performance and success.
Our district has actively provided input to the state regarding this new system. We have encouraged the state to simplify and improve the Annual Performance Report (APR) system already in place. However, it appears the state intends to implement the A–F grading system alongside the existing accountability framework.
We have expressed concerns about the speed at which this system has been developed, the potential confusion created by multiple accountability measures, the use of previous years' data, and the importance of accurately reflecting student growth and school success.
One moment I appreciated during today's meeting was when the teacher representative on the State Board requested a comparison between the proposed A–F grades and the existing accountability measures. He wanted to make sure we were not sending mixed messages to schools and communities. Unfortunately, the teacher representative is not a voting member of the State Board.
We will continue to provide feedback and advocate for an accountability system that is fair, transparent, and meaningful.
We Are Accountable to You First
Through surveys, meetings, and conversations, you have shared what matters most to you in our schools. Your feedback helped develop our recently finalized Comprehensive School Improvement Plan (CSIP). We will be sending out another round of CSIP surveys shortly, and I encourage you to continue sharing your thoughts.
While state accountability is important, no letter grade can replace what you know as a parent about your child's education. You know their teachers, classroom experiences, challenges, and successes. I hope you have the opportunity to visit with your child's teachers during parent-teacher conferences next Monday, October 26.
Our responsibility is to work alongside you to help every student reach their educational goals and achieve the best possible outcomes. Whether the state uses an A–F grade, an APR score, or another measure, our mission and commitment to our students will not change.
Our Warsaw R-IX School District mission states:
"We Engage, Empower, and Collaborate To Ensure Every Student Has Success Every Day."
Public schools serve every student who walks through our doors, regardless of their needs, circumstances, or starting points. That responsibility is fundamental to who we are, and it is one reason a single letter grade can never tell the complete story of a school, its students, or its educators.
We believe in accountability, continuous improvement, and high expectations. We also believe that accountability should recognize student growth and the many ways our students experience success.
Thank you for your continued partnership and support. Our teachers and staff work every day to make a difference for our students, and we will continue to keep you informed as this new system develops.
Sincerely,
Scott Gemes, Superintendent
Warsaw R-IX School District