The Mexico School District saw growth for its second continuous year in its annual performance report released by the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education on Nov. 6. The district earned 75% of its 2025 APR points, which was an improvement from the 71.2% earned in 2024.

“We know we’re not where we want to be, but we can at least look and say, ‘Hey, things are heading in the right direction,’ and the effort that’s being made is making a difference,” Superintendent Troy Lentz said.

The annual performance report showed gains in academic achievement growth in mathematics and social studies but revealed areas for improvement such as science and elementary math.

The district also earned all available points for advanced credit.

“We earned more points because we had more kids earn A’s and B’s in dual credit, and we had more kids earn A’s and B’s in dual credit because we had the money to help them take the classes,” Lentz said.

The district used the Perkins Innovation and Modernization grant to pay for dual credit classes for both semesters of the 2024-25 school year, as well as the fall semester of the 2025-26 school year, and the district intends to use the last of the PIM grant to pay for dual credit courses in the spring semester.

“I think if we give kids a chance and they show that they can earn an A or B in a college course, maybe they start to think differently about what they can do after they leave high school,” he said.

The school district only received $1.3 million from the PIM grant to spend by January. After that, securing funding for all students who are interested in taking dual credit courses will be difficult. The Mexico School District is exploring other avenues of funding, including the Bright Futures “Clearing the Path” program, but even that won’t be enough.

“Is there interest in this community to step in and fill that gap that we have as the federal government has reduced its commitment to post-secondary preparation?” Lentz asked.

Funding dual credit classes makes a big difference to Lentz, and the annual performance report scores speak for themselves.

“It shows that it’s worth it to invest in Mexico kids,” he said.

To continue on its improvement path, the district continues with its new English Language Arts curriculum, which was implemented two years ago. Rather than replacing a curriculum, Lentz said that it unified the many curriculums being used in the district.

“If we all rally around one curriculum, then we can use common language to teach,” he said. “The approach to teaching reading becomes more unified.”

The district also continues with the new math curriculum that was implemented a year ago.

Looking ahead, Lentz said there has also been more collaboration in the district, particularly between the elementary buildings, which he thinks will have a positive impact and return on investment.