RESERVE — Superintendent Kevin George shared the good news Wednesday during the St. John the Baptist Parish Public Schools’ district principals meeting.

The positive update was made official statewide Thursday, but local principals heard a day early that the School District improved its overall letter grade to a B in the latest Louisiana Department of Education accountability rankings.

George said it was great to see the faces when the good news was delivered, “because they work so hard every single day, as do our teachers.”

“There were some people literally in tears,” he said. “It was a great experience, probably my best moment since coming to this District.”

School leaders said the ranking was the first time the District earned the B distinction, scoring an 85.2 as its 2015 District Performance Score.

It is an improvement over last year’s score of 83.1, a C.

The district now features two A-rated schools: West St. John High School improved its School Performance Score more than seven points to a 106 to join John L. Ory Communications Magnet School in the A category.

Ory Magnet has maintained its A-rating for four consecutive years.

Two schools showed double-digit growth. West St. John Elementary School grew 16.6 points, while Lake Pontchartrain Elementary School improved 15 points.

Emily C. Watkins Elementary was rated a B school. Schools rating at C level include LaPlace Elementary, West St. John Elementary, East St. John High, Lake Pontchartrain Elementary and East St. John Elementary.

Schools ranking at D level were Fifth Ward Elementary and Garyville-Mt. Airy Math & Science Magnet School.

Performance Scores are based on student achievement on annual assessments, academic indicators and measures of career and college readiness, such Carnegie credits earned through ninth grade, graduation rates and earning Advanced Placement, International Baccalaureate and Dual Enrollment.

School leaders said the rating released this week indicate the 10th consecutive year of growth for the District.

School Board President Keith Jones said part of the superintendent’s plan was, in three to five years, have the School District heading towards an A status.

“I think he is well on his way,” Jones said. “From the School Board level, we are going to give him as much support and resources as we can. This just goes to show that our District is moving forward. Kudos goes to our superintendent, his district staff, our principals, teachers, support staff and everyone who had a hand in this because it is a team effort. Our students are learning and growing, and we are moving in the right direction.”

School leaders also noted St. John the Baptist Parish Public School District was recognized in October for its achievement on PARCC after achieving the fourth-highest growth in the state for the percentage of students scoring mastery or above in English language arts and math.

West St. John Elementary and High Schools are especially trending in the positive direction as each’s individual ratings jumped: WSJE from D to a C, and WSJH from a B to an A.

District 1 School Board Member Russell Jack, who’s represents the West Bank, said he was excited but not surprised by the news because he is noticing students breaking barriers every year.

“I attribute it to the administration now and in the past,” Jack said. “The superintendent has been great and supported us. It’s a community effort, as well as a parental effort. More than anything, I think it is the kids and the administration. I feel the kids are really seeing the seriousness of an education. It starts at home, and these are the results.”