Thursday, May 26, 2022, 5:47 pm News Flash Archive

Today, the Mississippi Department of Education ("MDE") published the initial Third Grade reading scores, and the Greenwood Leflore Consolidated School District ("GLCSD") had the 5th lowest score statewide. Only 40.4% of the students met the reading requirement to move up to the fourth grade.

According to state law, students who do not pass the Third Grade reading test cannot be promoted to the Fourth Grade. As MDE stated in its press release accompanying the report:

The LBPA ["Literacy-Based Promotion Act"] became law in 2013 to improve reading skills of kindergarten through 3rd-grade students in public schools so every student completing the 3rd grade is able to read at or above grade level. The LBPA requires Mississippi 3rd graders to pass a reading assessment to qualify for promotion to 4th grade.

The five worst districts statewide are:

40.4% - GLCSD (Greenwood Leflore County)
38.5% - Noxubee County
35.7% - Yazoo City
34.7% - Holmes County
29.3% - Humphreys County

Carroll County public schools had 50.7% of the students meet the passing score.

The best four districts in the state are:

91.4% - Choctaw County
90.5% - Clinton
90.8% - Ocean Springs
90.1% - Webster County

The breakdown of elementary schools in the Greenwood Leflore County district for passing percentages are:

62.3% - Bankston Elementary School
47.9% - Davis Elementary School
39.7% - East Elementary School
43.8% - Leflore County Elementary School
19.7% - Threadgill Elementary School

Statewide, 73.9% of the third grade students passed the reading test on the first try.

According to MDE, students who did not pass the reading test are allowed to be retested two additional times. The first retest already took place, and overall final passing grades will be announced this fall.

The complete report may be seen here: 3rd Grade Reading Initial Scores

MDE's accompanying explanatory press release may be seen here: MDE announces 73.9% of 3rd graders pass reading assessment on first try

John Pittman Hey
The Taxpayers Channel

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