NEWS RELEASE
Updated November 12, 2019
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Mississippi Ranks No. 1 in Nation for Score Gains on National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP)
Mississippi Scores Increase as National Scores Stagnate
(JACKSON, MS) – Mississippi has achieved the No. 1 spot in the nation for gains on the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), also known as the Nation’s Report Card, with 4th grade students making the largest score gains from 2017 to 2019 in reading and mathematics, 8th grade students outpacing the nation for growth in mathematics, and 8th grade reading holding steady.
Mississippi is the only state in the nation to show significant increases in three of the four core NAEP subjects in 2019. Washington, D.C., is the only jurisdiction to show gains in three of four subjects. Nationally, scores for most NAEP subjects dropped or remained flat from 2017 to 2019.
For the first time, Mississippi 4th graders scored higher than the nation’s public school average in mathematics and tied the nation in reading.
“Academic progress in Mississippi has been powerful and sustained, proving there is no limit to what our students can accomplish,” said Dr. Carey Wright, state superintendent of education. “Mississippi’s teachers have done a phenomenal job equipping students with the knowledge and skills to succeed throughout their education.”
The percentage of Mississippi students scoring proficient or above on NAEP has increased significantly over the past decade, particularly in 4th grade mathematics, where proficiency levels nearly doubled.
“Mississippi stands out as one of just two states/jurisdictions that improved in three of the four NAEP grade and subject combinations,” said Dr. Peggy Carr, associate commissioner for assessment at the National Center for Education Statistics. “Because of its grade 4 gains, Mississippi’s mathematics and reading scores are the highest they have ever been and are now on par with the national public average. This is meaningful progress for Mississippi.”
The 2019 NAEP scores continue Mississippi’s 10-year trend of steady increases, as the nation’s scores stagnate. Student achievement accelerated more rapidly since 2013, after the statewide implementation of the Literacy-Based Promotion Act, higher academic standards with aligned assessments, a strong accountability system, and a significant investment in professional development for educators.
“A strong education system is essential to building a strong workforce and stimulating economic development,” said Scott Waller, president and CEO of the Mississippi Economic Council.
“Mississippi’s significant progress in education is a valuable quality that sets us apart from other states.”
The 2019 NAEP results show that Mississippi students living in poverty are outperforming their peers nationally. Black, white and Hispanic students from low-income homes in Mississippi achieved higher scores than their peers nationally in all four NAEP subjects.
“Mississippi has entered a new era of public education,” said Dr. Jason Dean, chair of the Mississippi State Board of Education. “Our significant improvements in teaching and learning have made Mississippi a national leader for improving student success in education.”
Editor’s Notes:
FAQs
1 spot in the nation for NAEP gains when 4th grade students made the largest score gains from 2017 to 2019 in reading and mathematics, 8th grade students outpaced the nation for growth in mathematics, and 8th grade reading held steady.
Where does Mississippi rank in public education? ›
The 2024 Kids Count Data Book ranked Mississippi's education as 30th in the United States, which is an improvement from the state ranking 32nd last year and 39th in 2022.
What is Mississippi ranked in education ranking improvement? ›
– Mississippi improved its education ranking to 30th in the nation – the state's highest ranking ever – according to the 2024 Annie E. Casey Foundation's KIDS COUNT® Data Book released today. The state was ranked 48th in education in 2014 and has experienced continued improvement.
What is Mississippi ranked in the United States? ›
Mississippi is ranked worst in the nation in terms of economy and health care. It ranks 48th in infrastructure and 45th in fiscal stability. The state's highest ranking is its natural environment, placing it 20th, and is 25th for crime and corrections. The state ranks 35th for both education and opportunity.
Where does Mississippi rank in reading? ›
At a time when hardly any state can celebrate its latest reading scores, Mississippi is a rare bright spot of literacy success. The state's fourth-grade reading scores rank 21st in the nation, up from a dreadful 49th in 2013. Among fourth graders from low-income families, Mississippi ranks second, behind only Florida.
What state is ranked 1 in education? ›
Massachusetts is the most educated state in the US, according to a new study. In its 2024 Most & Least Educated States in America, WalletHub compared all 50 states across 18 key indicators of a well-educated population: educational attainment, school quality and achievement gaps between genders and races.
What is Mississippi state ranked academically? ›
Mississippi State University's ranking in the 2024 edition of Best Colleges is National Universities, #216.
Does Mississippi have good education? ›
A new national report on child well-being ranks Mississippi 32nd in the nation for education, the only measure in which the state's rank has meaningfully improved in the last decade. The 2023 KIDS COUNT Data Book, published annually by the Annie E.
What is the rank of Mississippi? ›
The Rank of MISSISSIPPI is 13737. The rank of a word is the position of the word in the dictionary, if the dictionary consists of the words formed by interchanging the letters of the word.
How did Mississippi improve education? ›
Two major pieces of legislation in 2013 laid the foundation for this change: the Literacy-Based Promotion Act, which put much more pressure on the Mississippi Department of Education and schools statewide to focus on early literacy, and the Early Learning Collaborative Act, which drove public funding to early education ...
For others, that summit has yet to be reached. There are only seven teams that have made it to No. 1 in the College Football Playoff rankings. Mississippi State made history as the first program to take the top spot in 2014, but Alabama has wiped out the competition with the most No.
What is the top 1 percent in Mississippi? ›
Mississippi
- Top 1% income threshold: $383,128.
- Top 5% income threshold: $181,094.
The university is consistently ranked among the best universities USA. As per the THE (Times Higher Education) University Ranking 2023, Mississippi State University is ranked 801-1000, making it among the top universities in the country. Meanwhile, QS World University Ranking 2024, ranked the university at 1001-1200.
Where do Mississippi schools rank in the nation? ›
Mississippi Ranks 35th in the Nation for K-12 Achievement in Quality Counts National Report | The Mississippi Department of Education.
What is the number 1 high school in Mississippi? ›
Nationally, the highest ranked Mississippi school is Ocean Springs High School, which earned a No. 682 national ranking. Ocean Springs High School is the only Mississippi school in 2024 to break 1,000 on the rankings list. The next highest school, Lewisburg High School in Olive Branch, ranked 1,464.
What county in Mississippi has the best schools? ›
Neshoba County
#1 Counties with the Best Public Schools in Mississippi.
Which state ranks lowest in public education? ›
After West Virginia, Mississippi and Louisiana were the least educated states, according to the analysis. Other states at the bottom of the list include Arkansas, Oklahoma, Alabama, Nevada, Kentucky, New Mexico and Texas.
What is the education rate in Mississippi? ›
Mississippi's 2022-23 graduation rate of 89.4% marks all-time high; dropout rate falls to 8.5% JACKSON, Miss. – The Mississippi Department of Education (MDE) released today the 2022-23 school year graduation and dropout rates, showing an all-time high 89.4% graduation rate and a decreased 8.5% dropout rate.
