Harrison County Schools received 591 responses to our 2026–27 Family Communications Survey. The survey was open from July 27 through July 31.
The survey link was sent by text to about 8,000 phone numbers. It was also shared through social media and local news. Because the link was available to the public, the district cannot calculate a true response rate. One response may also represent a family with more than one student.
The results reflect the people who chose to respond. They do not represent a vote or the views of every district family.
How Families Receive Information
Text messages were the most common source of school and district information.
Text messages: 75.6%
School social media: 48.4%
Their student: 41.6%
District social media: 29.3%
School website: 25.5%
Email or digital newsletter: 20.6%
School staff: 19.5%
District website: 18.3%
Local news: 10.0%
Families could select more than one answer.
What Information Matters Most
Families placed the most value on information that affects their schedules and their child’s safety.
School calendars and events: 84.6%
Weather delays and closings: 83.4%
Emergency and safety information: 70.1%
Bus and transportation information: 33.2%
School menus: 32.5%
Families Prefer Short Explanations
When asked how they would like school programs, policies, and family resources explained, most respondents selected a short written summary.
Short written summary: 66.3%
Video shorter than two minutes: 32.3%
Step-by-step webpage: 18.3%
Feedback in Families’ Own Words
The survey included two questions that allowed families to write their own answers.
A total of 288 respondents answered:
“What is one thing we could do to improve communication with your family?”
Common topics included:
More direct or personal contact
A current website, app, or central source
More text messages and direct alerts
Clear and consistent information
Better event and calendar information
Earlier notice
More information about grades, assignments, and student progress
Another 230 respondents answered:
“Is there information you need that we are not currently providing?”
Many said no, none, or that they were unsure. Other responses focused on events, sports, transportation, menus, student progress, safety, special education, test scores, and college and career information.
The written responses suggest that families are often concerned with how information is delivered. Some described information as late, spread across several places, hard to find, or not connected closely enough to their child.
Individual comments are not being published because some included private information about students, families, and employees.
Grade-Level Information
Families could select more than one grade because many households have more than one student. The 591 respondents made 890 grade selections.
The survey found some differences by school level:
Elementary families were more likely to receive information directly from school staff.
Middle and high school families were more likely to receive information from their student.
Interest in college and career information increased in the upper grades.
Interest in college and career videos was highest among families with students in grades 10 through 12.
These groups overlap because families could select more than one grade. The results should not be used to compare or rank schools.
Understanding the Results
The survey gives the district useful information about how participating families receive and use school communication. It does not mean that every request will become a district or school practice.
Some requests may be limited by student privacy, safety procedures, active police investigations, staffing, available technology, or the needs of other families.
The survey results will be used as one source of information when the district and schools review communication practices.