Mississippi’s public schools have seen an overall improvement in grades in recent years, a report from the state’s department of education reveals.
The Mississippi Department of Education (MDE) released accountability grades for the 2023-24 school year, which show 85.7% of schools and 93.9% of districts earned a grade of C or higher, marking the largest-ever share of districts with an A, B, or C rating.
The accomplishment follows a goal the Mississippi State Board of Education set in 2016 for all schools and districts to be rated C or higher. At that time, the percentage of schools and districts meeting this goal was 62% — more than 20% lower than what is reported today.
Statewide student assessment data make up a large part of accountability grades. Last school year, Mississippi experienced record-breaking student achievement in mathematics, English Language Arts, and science.
“I am incredibly proud of our students, teachers, and school leaders for their academic achievements in the 2023-24 school year,” State Superintendent of Education Dr. Lance Evans said. “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 make sure every Mississippi public school graduate is prepared for a successful future.”
Per the MDE, Mississippi is recognized as a national leader in education because, over the past decade, students have made faster progress than most other states. Several factors contributed to the steady rise in student achievement including the implementation of higher academic standards and statewide support to teachers to help students reach higher standards.
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Other factors include the effective implementation of laws and policies that 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 improved from 50th to 35th, and the state’s overall education grade improved from F to C- (the nation’s average grade is C). In 2024, the Annie E. Casey Foundation’s KIDS COUNT® Data Book ranked Mississippi 30th in the nation for education — the state’s highest-ever ranking.
Mississippi’s accountability grades help teachers, school leaders, parents, and communities know how well their local schools and districts are serving their students. The components of the state’s accountability system are based on state and federal law and State Board policy. They include:
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Student proficiency and growth rates in ELA and Mathematics in grades 3-8
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Growth of the lowest performing 25% of students in ELA and Mathematics
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Science proficiency in grades 5 and 8
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English Learners progress toward becoming proficient in the English language
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Performance on the ACT and high school Algebra I, English II, Biology, and U.S. History assessments
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Student participation and performance in advanced coursework such as Advanced Placement, career and technical education programs, and dual credit/dual enrollment courses
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Four-year graduation rate
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Holmes County Consolidated School District: Improved to a B grade this year, after maintaining a C for two consecutive years. The district was rated F when it was taken over in 2021.
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Noxubee County School District: Maintained its C grade from 2023, improving upon its D rating in 2022. The district earned an F every year from 2016 to 2021.
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Achievement School District (ASD): The Humphreys County portion of the ASD improved its grade to a C, improving upon its D grade in 2023 and F in 2022. The Yazoo City portion of the ASD 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 said. “Students are achieving at higher levels because they are being challenged and supported to succeed.”
