Mississippi Coast students last school year often scored higher than their peers across the state on an annual test of math, science, English language arts and U.S. History, according to scores released last week by the state Department of Education.
The results marked a broad success for schools across the Coast. Students in the Long Beach and Ocean Springs school districts scored so high in each subject that the Mississippi Department of Education recognized the districts as among the best in the state.
Students in the Bay St. Louis-Waveland School district also stood out: The district earned statewide recognition for its high scores in math, science and U.S. History. And the Hancock County School District earned praise for its students scores in science and U.S. History.
The tests score students on four subjects. Students in grades three through eight get scored on English and math. Fifth and eighth graders are scored on science. High school students are tested on English II, Algebra I, Biology and U.S. History.
Education leaders hailed the results as a stark improvement from the drop in scores during the COVID-19 pandemic.
“The continued rise in student achievement across Mississippi is a testament to the hard work and dedication of our students, teachers and school leaders,” Lance Evans, the state superintendent of education, said in a news release .
“Our focus now is on building more momentum to guarantee that all our graduates are prepared for the challenges and opportunities they will encounter in college, their careers, and life.”
The Mississippi Department of Education said average statewide scores have reached an “all-time high”: 47.8 percent of students scored in the highest two categories for English language arts, 56.3 percent scored similarly high in math and 63.4 percent scored in the highest categories in science.
The only downfall was U.S. History, where the state said the percent of high-scoring students decreased from 71.4 percent to 70.9 percent.
Here’s a closer look at each district on the Mississippi Coast.
Hancock County School District
Hancock County students scored highest in U.S. History. About 87 percent were classified as “proficient” or “advanced” — the highest two categories the state recognizes.
On average, about 78 percent of students scored proficient or advanced in science.
About 71 percent scored similarly high in math, and roughly 59 percent of students scored in the highest two categories for English language arts.
Bay St. Louis-Waveland School District
Bay-Waveland students also scored exceptionally high in U.S. History. On average, 92 percent of students scored “proficient” or “advanced,” the state’s results showed.
About 80 percent of students, on average, scored proficient or advanced in science. Around 74 percent scored in those categories for math, and about 59 percent scored similarly high in English.
Harrison County School District
On average, about 80 percent of students in Harrison County schools scored “proficient” or “advanced” in U.S. History.
About 76 percent scored similarly high in science, the state’s results show.
Roughly 67 percent scored proficient or advanced, and about 60 percent of students met those scores in English.
Pass Christian Public School District
Pass Christian students scored high in U.S. History: About 83 percent scored “proficient” or “advanced,” according to this year’s results.
On average, about 79 percent of students scored proficient or advanced in science.
About 69 percent scored similarly high in math, and about 59 percent scored proficient or advanced in English.
Long Beach School District
About 90 percent of Long Beach students scored proficient or advanced in U.S. History, the state’s results showed.
Roughly 84 percent scored that high in science, and about 75 percent scored proficient or advanced in math.
On average, 64 percent of students were proficient or advanced in English.
“I am filled with immense pride,” Superintendent Tali Lock wrote in a social media post announcing the results. “Year after year, our teachers and students have demonstrated unwavering commitment and dedication, resulting in sustained success that is truly exceptional.”
Gulfport Public School District
On average, about 70 percent of Gulfport students scored proficient or advanced in U.S. History, according to the state’s results.
Results show about 67 percent scored as high in science.
About 61 percent of students scored proficient or advanced in math, and about 57 percent scored similarly high in English.
Biloxi Public School District
About 83 percent of Biloxi students scored proficient or advanced in U.S. History.
On average, 76 percent scored similarly high in science.
Around 70 percent of students scored proficient or advanced in math, and about 56 percent of students met those scores in English, the state’s results showed.
Jackson County School District
On average, about 85 percent of Jackson County students scored proficient or advanced in U.S. History, according to this year’s results.
Around 76 percent scored proficient or advanced in science.
About 69 percent scored similarly high in math, and about 61 percent of students scored within the highest categories in English.
Ocean Springs School District
Ocean Springs students also excelled in U.S. History: About 86 percent scored in the proficient or advanced categories.
About 85 percent of students scored just as high in science, according to the state’s results.
Around 79 percent of students scored proficient or advanced in math, and about 71 percent scored similarly high in English.
Moss Point School District
On average, 68 percent of Moss Point students scored proficient or advanced in U.S. History, the state’s results showed.
About 59 percent scored as high in science.
The district struggled in math and English: About 38 percent of students scored proficient or advanced in math, and about 36 percent scored in the highest two categories in English.
Pascagoula-Gautier School District
On average, 77 percent of Pascagoula-Gautier students scored proficient or advanced in U.S. History.
About 60 scored proficient or advanced in science.
Around 57 percent scored similarly high in math, and about 51 percent scored in the top two categories in English.
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