The Mississippi Department of Education (MDE) 2022-23 Superintendent’s Annual Report cites “Marathon Achievement” within the state’s public school system during the past decade.
The report singled out these highlights:
Mississippi Academic Assessment Program scores for 2022-23 show student achievement hit an all-time high, with the percentage of students scoring proficient or advanced reaching 52.6% in mathematics, 46.7% in English Language Arts (ELA), 59.4% in science and 71.4% in U.S. History.
The initial pass rate on the third-grade reading assessment increased to an all-time high of 76.3% since the passing score was raised in 2019.
Graduation rate reached an all-time high of 88.9%.
Chronic absenteeism decreased to 23.9%.
The number of Mississippi students taking Advanced Placement (AP) exams reached a record high of 12,044 public-school students taking 16,983 AP exams, with a record high of 5,860 exams earning a qualifying score.
5,346 students earned an industry certification in a Career and Technical Education program.
MDE’s coaching staff has expanded from 29 literacy coaches in 2013–14 to a team of 122 coaches supporting teachers and school leaders in the areas of early childhood education, literacy, special education, mathematics, digital learning and school improvement.
Mississippi school and district accountability A-F grades for 2022–23 showed 91% of districts and 87% of schools earned a grade of C or higher.
61 schools earned the Military Star School designation.
Three schools were named 2023 National Blue Ribbon Schools.
Mississippi received the 2023 Frank Newman Award for State Innovation.
View the report online at mdek12.org/superintendent2023. Find all MDE news at mdek12.org/news.