Friday, September 4, 2020

State Auditor Lauds JPS JROTC

State Auditor Shadrick White issued the following statement.

Jackson is home to a nationally-recognized Junior Reserve Officer’s Training Corps (JROTC) program that boosts the graduation rates and ACT scores of its participants, according to a report released today by State Auditor Shad White. Students enrolled in the JROTC program at Jackson Public Schools (JPS) are also more likely to be accepted to college than other JPS students.

“Jackson’s JROTC is exactly what is needed right now—a strong program that teaches discipline and structure and gets real education results,” said Auditor White. “The students and the program director deserve a ton of credit for what they have achieved.”

The Office of the State Auditor studied JPS’s JROTC program by reviewing data, conducting interviews, and reviewing the evaluations of the program conducted by a U.S. Army accreditation board.

The national JROTC program emphasizes the value of hard work and accountability to students who are often at risk of failing or dropping out of school. Enrolled students take courses, engage in drill exercises, and wear uniforms during JROTC class. They are also eligible to participate in extracurricular team activities like field trips and are required to perform community service.

At JPS, JROTC students perform better than other students on average. The Auditor’s report shows JPS students enrolled in the JROTC program have a nearly 100% graduation rate, and over 95% are accepted to college. Further, JROTC students score an average of nearly three points higher on the ACT than other JPS students and have an absentee rate less than one-ninth the JPS average. These results come from an approximately $1,500 per-student cost to the school district.

The U.S. Army Cadet Command at Fort Knox evaluates each JROTC program in the country and rates them
on factors like education, training, personnel, and operations. In 2020, evaluators found the JROTC programs at all seven four-year high schools in the JPS system attained the highest possible national rating. The report shows JPS’s high marks were also obtained even in years with budget cuts. Interviewees attributed this success to the program director, Colonel Paul Willis (ret.).

“What I love about JROTC, aside from the values it instills and its results, is the fact that the program is audited by an outside body from Fort Knox,” said White. “It’s not often that you see a supplemental school program that is reviewed by a national accreditation team. We need to expand these sorts of  data-backed education programs here in Mississippi.”







17 comments:

Anonymous said...

Great place to give these kids discipline, direction, and goals. Because they sure as hell ain’t gonna get it from baby mama and absent baby daddy.

Anonymous said...

Students who exhibit initiative, hard work, and responsibility tend to be successful. I'm glad there are options like the JROTC to help them build character. You've also obviously got some good leaders in the JROTC program who are ensuring the participants live up to the high expectations.

Anonymous said...

Amazing what a little discipline and guidance can do for the life of a young person.

Anonymous said...

The JROTC programs are the last vestiges of real discipline in the Jackson Public High Schools. Once upon a time Jim Hill and Lanier were known statewide for their discipline and academic achievement. That was a lifetime ago and only a program like JROTC having it's own independent set of disciplinary standards is left to provide the structure so many of these young people desperately need. Thank you for recognizing it.

BZ said...

These are excellent programs, and undoubtably rescue some young inner city kids from the potential grasp of crime and long term poverty.

Good job.

Anonymous said...

We need a ROTC program in Covington County!

Anonymous said...

JROTC (and ROTC) are great programs, even in suburban high schools. In addition to the characteristics listed above, it gives young people - some loaners, some not able to make sports teams - the chance to be a part of something that makes a difference. I did over 30 years of military service, it was always about the camaraderie and being part of a bigger picture that motivated me.

Green Acres said...

It's a great program but requires parental support to succeed. I understand that it can be expensive, depending on your budget, to buy the uniforms, transport the kids to and from events, etc. I think it works because it gives kids a sense of pride in themselves.

Anonymous said...

All my boys were JROTC members at their HS and got a slight foot up when entering the service as enlisted. Not so hard to adjust right off as someone who is not used to discipline or teamwork goes through. Never had this when I was entering service.

Anonymous said...

This is very reassuring.

And while I doubt the JROTC, ROTC, and OCS Candidates still sing the military cadence tunes about
Ho Chi Minh, I hope they have substituted the name Osama bin Laden.

Anonymous said...

@1:38, it doesn't cost a dime for a student to participate in JROTC. My son was in JROTC at JPS. After graduating college, he joined the military and entered at a higher rank than nonparticpants of the JROTC program. There's always news of young men committing crimes, so I want to thank the auditor for bringing attention to these fine young men and women. I also want to thank
the the JROTC instructors who have served the country and is now serving our youths at JPS.

Anonymous said...

I was in JROTC and am all about it. But why is the State Auditor dabbling in this again? Are they under investigation? I guess we can expect Lynn Fitch to tell us about the benefits of roads and bridges next.

reximus said...

Both of my sons did JROTC in high school. It got them both scholarships to VMI. One is now a 1st LT with the 10th Mountain Division and the other will graduate/commission in May of next year. If your kid is not into athletics, encourage them to look into JROTC. The full ride my youngest got was worth about 250k .

Anonymous said...

"Students enrolled in the JROTC program at Jackson Public Schools (JPS) are also more likely to be accepted to college than other JPS students."

Can you give a number as to the JPS students who have been declined college enrollment? Of course you can't - there IS no such number.

Anonymous said...

Some states do not allow JROTC because it encourages military enlistment. It sort of follows that this program, then, is not among the favorites of Jackson's mayor.

Anonymous said...

Shad, Imma need you to focus here. There is deep, deep corruption in municipalities and counties. Please spend your staff's time and resources there and not on neat-o book reports. Signed, the Mississippi Public.

Anonymous said...

Great to hear good news about JPS. And contrary to public perception, lots of kids go thru JPS and do quite well. Some kids from JPS went to undergrad with me at Tougaloo, several are know dentist, doctors, and lawyers. Yes JPS has problems. And we constantly talk about those. Lets occasionally celebrate the good.



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