The Mississippi Department of Education has released positive data on the state’s third grade reading assessment scores to the public.
Overall, 93.2 percent of Mississippi third graders passed the test, the most since it was first given in 2015. Scores have risen every year, with 85 percent passing in 2015, 87 percent in 2016 and 92 percent in 2017.
The Starkville Oktibbeha Consolidated School District scored 90.9 percent overall, with 90.6 percent of Henderson Ward Stewart third graders passing and at least 95 percent of third graders at West Elementary passing. In total, 386 students took the test, including 363 at HWS and 23 at West.
The West Point Consolidated School District passed at 94.6 percent, with South Side Elementary passing at 94.6 percent and West Clay Elementary passing with at least 95 percent.
The Literacy Based Promotion Act requires Mississippi third graders to pass a reading assessment in order to be promoted to fourth grade. Students are provided with three opportunities to pass. Students who do not pass the assessment on any of their attempts are required to repeat the third grade, unless the student is determined to meet the good cause exemptions specified in the law. The law was amended in 2016 to require students starting in the 2018-2019 school year to score at least a level 3, above the lowest two achievement levels in order to be promoted to fourth grade. Also, starting in 2018-2019, alternate forms of the Questar-developed Mississippi Academic Assessment Program will be used for retesting, instead of
the Renaissance-developed reading test in use since 2015.
Those interested can find the scores on the MDE website.