Challenge

Oxford High School (OHS) in Oxford, Mississippi, faced significant challenges in its special education department. In 2021, less than 50 percent of OHS students receiving special education services graduated. To strengthen progress monitoring practices and expand access to additional digital tools, Oxford High School implemented Edmentum’s Exact Path in 2024 for targeted skills development.

As Dr. Dana Bullard, principal of OHS, described, “We had lots of needs with our special education department. One of them was progress monitoring that is appropriate for 9th through 12th grade. There are lots of programs for elementary schools, but in high school, for it to be research-based and to be appropriate for them, we needed something.”

Solution

After researching various programs and consulting with other schools, OHS implemented Edmentum Exact Path in 2024 to meet students where they were ready to learn and provided personalized support. The school purchased 300 licenses, focusing first on its students receiving special education services.

OHS Assistant Principal Ashley Shannon explained how the initial rollout of Exact Path helped teachers build Individualized Education Programs (IEPs): “Having Exact Path and going through the diagnostic, we are able to look at the math or English requirements for the year [and compare it to] our goal. If we work on this skill, that’s going to help us close some deficit areas.”

Educators at OHS integrated Exact Path into structured resource periods, dedicating 20 minutes per day to targeted skill building. Teachers were trained in the program, and a structured implementation plan ensured consistency. The administration also closely monitored student progress, using the data to drive more effective IEP meetings.

Ms. Shannon elaborated on the implementation, “Students do one subject per day, and then one day a week, they work on IEP goals. Knowing we are going to roll it out in pieces, it was not overwhelming, and it helped with teacher buy-in.”

Additionally, Exact Path allowed teachers to identify gaps in student learning and assign personalized lessons to address those gaps, which helped students prepare for state-mandated exams.

Dr. Bullard remarked, “We are slowly gaining ground and giving those kids more support—it’s not just homework help or grade recovery; this is skills building; this is progress monitoring.”

Result

The impact of Exact Path at Oxford High School has been significant. The school has seen measurable success, including:

More Effective IEPs

Teachers now have access to precise, data-driven insights to guide IEP goal setting and progress tracking, making meetings more productive and student outcomes more targeted.

Increased Graduation Rates

The graduation rate for students receiving special education services grew 22 percent in just three years, rising to 72 percent in 2024.

Higher ACT Scores

Students reported higher ACT scores, with some improving by three or four points in specific sections, directly attributing their progress to Exact Path. Better performance on high-stakes testing helped some students meet graduation requirements and earn college scholarships.

Oxford High School’s experience with Exact Path demonstrates the power of a well-planned, research-based intervention. By addressing specific student needs with a structured approach, the school has significantly improved outcomes for its students receiving special education services. The success of Exact Path demonstrates how the right tools, combined with strong leadership and teacher buy-in, can drive meaningful change in student achievement, setting a new standard for secondary education success.