Statewide Assessment Results: Student Achievement Reaches All-Time High Percentage of Mississippi Students Scoring Proficient or Advanced Subject
2019
Mathematics Proficient or Advanced
47.4%
English Language Arts (ELA) Proficient or Advanced
41.6%
Science Proficient or Advanced
55.3%
U.S. History Proficient or Advanced
55.5%
2020
No Testing due to COVID-19
2021
2022
2023
Change since 2022
35.1%
47.3%
52.6%
+5.3%
34.9%
42.2%
46.7%
+4.5%
50.0%
55.9%
59.4%
+3.5%
47.0%
69.3%
71.4%
+2.1%
*New version of U.S. History test implemented.
Mississippi Department of Education’s (MDE’s) results from 2022–23 assessments show student achievement reaching an all-time high in mathematics, English Language Arts (ELA), science and U.S. History. Overall, the percentage of students scoring proficient or advanced is 52.6% in mathematics, 46.7% in ELA, 59.4% in science and 71.4% in U.S. History. The 2022–23 results show student achievement has resumed the pre-pandemic momentum from 2016 to 2019, during which the percentage of students scoring proficient and advanced increased from 1.8% to 5.6% in ELA and mathematics. Student achievement — both in Mississippi and nationally — dropped in 2021 due to the pandemic, though Mississippi students mostly rebounded by 2022. “Mississippi students have continued to prove they can achieve at higher and Fall 2023
higher levels,” said Dr. Ray Morgigno, interim state superintendent of education. “I am proud of what our students have accomplished and credit teachers and school leaders statewide for maintaining high standards and dedicating themselves to helping students reach, and exceed, their goals.” Since 2020, school districts and the state have invested federal pandemic-relief funds in programs and services to overcome pandemic disruptions and accelerate student learning. The additional funds enabled districts to pay for extended learning days, tutorial services and intensive interventions, among other supports. State investments include the Mississippi Connects digital learning initiative, which provided all students with a computer device and services including on-demand tutoring, high-quality digital curriculum subscriptions and digital learning coaches for teachers. 27
Mississippi is increasingly recognized as a national leader in education because students have made faster progress than nearly every other state. Several factors contributed to the steady rise in student achievement including the implementation of higher academic standards and statewide support to teachers to help students reach higher standards. Other factors include the effective implementation of several education reform laws and policies that developed or strengthened early childhood education, literacy instruction, school and district accountability and advanced learning opportunities for high school students. Since 2013, Mississippi’s national Quality Counts ranking for K-12 achievement improved from 50th to 35th, and the state’s overall education grade improved from F to C- (the nation’s grade is C). School Focus
