The Mississippi Department of Education (MDE) has released accountability grades for the 2023-24 school year, with 85.7% of schools and 93.9% of districts received a grade of C or higher.
This marks the largest proportion of Mississippi districts rated A, B, or C to date. In 2016, the Mississippi State Board of Education set a goal for all schools and districts to achieve a rating of C or above. At that time, only 62% of schools and districts met this benchmark.
A significant portion of the accountability grades is based on statewide student assessment data. In the 2023-24 academic year, the percentage of students scoring proficient and advanced reached record highs in mathematics, English Language Arts (ELA), and science.
“I am incredibly proud of our students, teachers and school leaders for their academic achievements in the 2023-24 school year,” stated Dr. Lance Evans, state superintendent of education. “This year’s school and district grades are a testament to the quality and success of Mississippi public schools. I am confident we will continue to build upon this success to ensure every Mississippi public school graduate is prepared for a successful future.”
Mississippi has recently gained positive national recognition in education, with students making faster progress over the past decade than nearly every other state. Contributing factors to this upward trend in student achievement include the introduction of higher academic standards and statewide support for teachers aimed at helping students meet these standards. Additional factors involve the effective enactment of laws and policies that have 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 has improved from 50th to 35th, while the state’s overall education grade has risen from an F to a C(the national average is C). In 2024, the Annie E. Casey Foundation’s KIDS COUNT® Data Book ranked Mississippi 30th in the nation for education, marking the state’s highest-ever ranking.
Mississippi’s accountability grades provide information for teachers, school leaders, parents, and communities regarding the effectiveness of their local schools and districts. The components of the state’s accountability system are derived from state and federal law as well as State Board policy and include:
*Student proficiency and growth rates in ELA and Mathematics for grades 3-8.
*Growth of the lowest performing 25% of students in ELA and Mathematics.
*Science proficiency in grades 5 and 8.
*Progress of English Learners toward achieving proficiency in the English language.
*Performance on the ACT and assessments for high school courses such as Algebra I, English II, Biology, and U.S. History.
*Student participation and performance in advanced coursework, including Advanced Placement, career and technical education programs, and dual credit/dual enrollment courses.
*Four-year graduation rate.
Achievements in 2023-24 extend to all districts under state leadership due to poor academic performance or a state of emergency. All four state-led districts have shown steady improvement:
*Holmes County Consolidated School District: Improved to a B grade this year, after holding a C for two consecutive years. The district was rated F when it was taken over in 2021.
*Noxubee County School District: Maintained its C grade from 2023, building on its D rating in 2022. The district had received an F every year from 2016 to 2021.
*Achievement School District (ASD): The Humphreys County portion of the ASD improved its grade to a C, up from a D in 2023 and F in 2022. The Yazoo City portion of the ASD also improved to a C from an F in 2023.
“The progress of our state-led districts proves what is possible when educators raise expectations, focus intensely on high-quality instruction, and provide strong leadership,” Evans remarked. “Students are achieving at higher levels because they are being challenged and supported to succeed.”
Resources:
School- and district-level accountability results: mdek12.org/OPR/Reporting/Accountability
Understanding the Mississippi Accountability Grading System for Schools and Districts
Video about Mississippi’s A-F accountability system and the components of the system for elementary, middle and high schools: mdek12.org/OCGR/mact
The Mississippi Succeeds Report Card, which includes additional information about the performance of schools and districts, will display official accountability results after Mississippi State Board of Education approval on Sept. 17, 2024: msrc.mdek12.org
