January 7, 2016
JACKSON, Miss. – The annual Education Week Quality Counts report gave Mississippi a “D” in K-12 education, though the average grades for two of the three key performance indicators increased slightly over 2015. The overall grade for “Chance of Success” increased from D+ to C-, and “K-12 Achievement” increased from F to D-. The grade for “School Finance” remained the same at D+. The country’s overall average grade is “C.”
The 2016 annual “State of the States” report ranks states on a range of indicators and awards letter grades for states and the nation. The K-12 Achievement index incorporates achievement levels and gains in math and reading on the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), high school graduation rates and performance on Advanced Placement (AP) exams.
Though student achievement levels remain low in Mississippi, Quality Counts ranks the state among the top 10 in the nation for NAEP gains in 4th grade math (No. 4) and reading (No. 7) and in 8th grade math (No. 7). These gains reflect a sustained upward trend from 2003 to 2015.
The Quality Counts report ranks Mississippi 15th in the nation for the combined proficiency rate growth on NAEP.
“This national report demonstrates that we are moving in the right direction for improving academic achievement, but we still have more work to do,” said Dr. Carey Wright, state superintendent of education. “We will continue to hold all students to high academic standards so that they are fully prepared for college and careers. We are committed to improving opportunities for every student in Mississippi.”
Mississippi showed a significant increase in 4th grade math and reading on the 2015 NAEP, bucking the national trend of flat or declining performance. Compared to 2013 scores, Mississippi was the only state that had a significant increase in 4th grade math, was one of 13 states that had a significant increase in 4th grade reading, and is the only state in that nation that saw significant increases in both subjects for 4th grade. Overall, 4th grade math proficiency rates rose from 26 to 30 percent, and reading proficiency increased from 21 to 26 percent.
NAEP reading and math scores for Mississippi 8th graders also defied national trends. While national proficiency rates declined in 2015, proficiency levels for 8th grade reading in Mississippi remained flat at 20 percent and math increased from 21 to 22 percent.
“Mississippi’s NAEP scores provide clear evidence that the Mississippi College and Career Ready Standards are helping students achieve better academic outcomes,” Wright said. “These gains are the most significant at the elementary level, where students had the benefit of receiving instruction based on these higher standards since the 1st grade.”
The Quality Counts report gave Mississippi high marks for its levels of preschool and kindergarten enrollment and for narrowing the 4th grade reading achievement gap for students in poverty and their more affluent peers. Mississippi is closing this gap at seven times the rate of the national average.
“I am encouraged that the achievement gap is narrowing for economically disadvantaged students,” Wright said. “It is critical to examine student performance data for all subgroups so that effective strategies can be developed to help all students achieve better outcomes. Using data to improve student achievement is one of the primary goals of the Mississippi State Board of Education’s Strategic Plan.”
The K-12 Achievement index noted that only 4 percent of Mississippi students scored a passing grade of 3 or higher on an AP exam compared to 29.3 percent nationwide. While this is a slight increase from 3.9 percent in 2015, Wright said the state’s low AP passing rate underscores the urgent need to increase student access to AP courses.
“As part of the Board’s Strategic Plan, the Mississippi Department of Education has implemented an AP initiative to increase the number of students enrolled in AP courses,” Wright said. “We owe it to our students to provide them with access to rigorous coursework so that they will be prepared for the unlimited opportunities that exist after high school. A well-educated workforce is essential to moving our state economy forward.”
The School Finance index places Mississippi in the top quartile for equity in education spending and K-12 spending as a percent of state spending, though it ranks Mississippi No. 38 in the nation for per-pupil expenditures.
Media Contact:
Patrice Guilfoyle, APR
Director of Communications
601-359-3706
Jean Cook, APR
Communications Specialist
601-359-3519