The Mississippi Department of Education (MDE) announced today that student achievement in the 2023-24 Mississippi Academic Assessment Program (MAAP) has reached an all-time high in mathematics, English Language Arts (ELA), and science.

According to the latest results, the percentage of students scoring proficient or advanced is at a record high of 47.8% in ELA, 56.3% in mathematics, and 63.4% in science. U.S. History scores slightly declined from 71.4% in 2022-23 to 70.9% in 2023-24.

These results indicate that student achievement in Mississippi continues to exceed pre-pandemic levels. While student achievement across the state and nation fell in 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Mississippi students rebounded mainly by 2022.

“The continued rise in student achievement across Mississippi is a testament to the hard work and dedication of our students, teachers, and school leaders,” said Dr. Lance Evans, state superintendent of education. “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.”

Gov. Tate Reeves also commented on the accomplishments: “Parents, students, and teachers continue to make history in the classroom, and they are helping to uplift our entire state. Mississippi is growing stronger in virtually every area, and education is no exception. I’m proud of our state’s work in getting us to today. We’ll continue doing everything possible to prepare Mississippi kids for meaningful careers after graduation.”

MAAP assesses students’ progress toward academic goals that prepare them for college and workforce success. Developed with input from Mississippi teachers, the MAAP tests are aligned with state learning goals and measure student performance in ELA and mathematics for grades 3-8, science for grades 5 and 8, and in high school English II, Algebra I, Biology, and U.S. History.

The results of MAAP significantly contribute to the A-F accountability grades that schools and districts earn annually. The accountability grades for the 2023-24 school year will be released at the Mississippi State Board of Education meeting on Sept. 17.

Mississippi is recognized as a national leader in education due to the rapid progress students have made compared to nearly every other state. Several factors have contributed to the consistent rise in student achievement, including implementing higher academic standards and statewide support for teachers to help students meet these standards. Additional factors include the effective implementation of education reform laws and policies that enhance 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 has improved from 50th to 35th, and the state’s overall education grade has risen from F to C- (with the nation’s grade at C). In 2024, the Annie E. Casey Foundation’s KIDS COUNT® Data Book ranked Mississippi 30th in the country for education, marking the state’s highest-ever ranking.