Mississippi Leads the South in College Persistence
SREB report highlights for Mississippi
The Southern Regional Education Board (SREB) praised
Mississippi is the only state in the region in
Mississippi for its achievements in education from early childhood
which the first-year persistence rate of first-
through college in its 2020 report on the progress of education in
time, full-time students at public, four-year
the South.
colleges and universities increased from 2012
"Mississippi: A Turning Point" details where the state stands in
to 2017, indicating that more first-time, full-
education, highlighting how the effective implementation of edu-
time college students returned to college for
cation policy has improved student achievement statewide and
a second year.
made Mississippi the leader in the South for college persistence. “The 2020 SREB report shows how Mississippi’s research-based education policies are improving student achievement from pre-K
The high school graduation rate outpaced the region in growth.
through college,” said Dr. Carey Wright, the state superintendent of
The average state Pell Grant award exceeded
education. “I am incredibly proud of all the hardworking students,
the national average and was the region’s
educators and school leaders who have made Mississippi a national
highest average award.
leader for advancing public education.” The SREB works to improve public education through proven
Fourth graders outpaced the region and
policy and practice in 16 Southern states, including Alabama,
nation in gains in reading and math achieve-
Arkansas, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana,
ment at both the Basic and Proficient levels
Maryland, Mississippi, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina,
on the National Assessment of Educational
Tennessee, Texas, Virginia and West Virginia.
Progress (NAEP). For the first time, fourth
The SREB’s annual state progress reports evaluate how well states are educating students and preparing them for the workforce. The 2020 report detailed challenges to SREB states’ efforts to
graders in the state outperformed the nation in reading and math achievement on the NAEP at the Basic level or above.
increase the educational attainment of working-age adults in the
Eighth graders outpaced the region and
South, including the large number who lack the credentials they
nation in gains in reading and math achieve-
need for success in the workplace.
ment at the Basic and Proficient levels on the
According to the SREB, rapid advancements in automation and
NAEP.
artificial intelligence may increasingly displace adults with low levels of education, transforming some positions while eliminat-
The freshman enrollment increase shrank,
ing others. Most new jobs — especially ones that pay well — will
indicating that more eighth graders are pre-
require education beyond high school. The SREB estimates that
pared to make transitions to ninth and then
by 2030, 18 million workers and their children in the South will be
10th grade.
unemployable or stuck in low-wage jobs and in a perpetual cycle of poverty.
The Early Learning Collaboratives meet all 10 quality standards for pre-K, according to the
The reports urge states to take aggressive action to prepare stu-
National Institute of Early Education Research
dents and adults for the higher-skilled positions of the future so
(NIEER). Mississippi is one of only four states
they can remain employed, earn higher incomes and support the
that meet all NIEER quality standards.
educational progress of future generations. Winter 2021
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School Focus
