JACKSON, Miss. ( WJTV ) – More than 70 years after the end of school segregation nationwide, data reveals that racialized differences are still present in Mississippi’s public education system.

Mississippi has historically had growing pains related to racial issues. School desegregation was not enforced in the state until 1970, 16 years after the landmark Brown v. Board of Education decision. In 2024, 30 school districts in Mississippi are currently under desegregation orders. The U.S. Department of Education’s (DOE) Civil Rights Data Collection shows further discrepancies in academic achievement among the state’s students.

Based on data collected from 2020-2021, African Americans made up 48.5% of the state’s public school students; white Mississippians made up 43%. However, African Americans make up 58.1% of all students who repeat grades statewide; white students make up 34.2%.

Locally, statewide and nationally, African Americans make up a disproportionate amount of those held back statewide and in the metro. Below are the numbers for public school districts throughout Jackson.

Clinton Public School District

• Black student population in school district: 55%
• Percentage of students repeating grades who are Black: 70.2%
• Students in school districts repeating a grade overall: 2%

Copiah County School District

• Black student population: 56.8%
• Percentage of students repeating grades who are Black: 68.1%
• Students repeating a grade: 4%

Hinds County School District

• Black student population: 88.2%
• Percentage of students repeating grades who are Black: 82.4%
• Students repeating a grade: 3%

Jackson Public School District

• Black student population: 95%
• Percentage of students repeating grades who are Black: 94.5%
• Students repeating a grade: 4%

Madison County School District

• Black student population: 40.5%
• Percentage of students repeating grades who are Black: 55.5%
• Students repeating a grade: 4%

Rankin County School District

• Black student population: 24.8%
• Percentage of students repeating grades who are Black: 31.6%
• Students repeating a grade: 2%

Simpson County School District

• Black student population: 49.5%
• Percentage of students repeating grades who are Black: 54.2%
• Students repeating a grade: 2%

Mississippi

• Black student population: 48.5%
• Percentage of students repeating grades who are Black: 58.1%
• Students repeating a grade: 4%

United States

• Black student population: 15%
• Percentage of students repeating grades who are Black: 27.9%
• Students repeating a grade: 2%

The grade retention rate in Mississippi and three school districts in the Jackson-metro area is double the national average. However, the ratio of Black students enrolled in a public school district to said district’s grade retention rate was lower in Mississippi and all school districts in the metro compared to the national average. For more information, click here .

Thanks for signing up!

Watch for us in your inbox.

Subscribe Now

Daily News

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WJTV.