Mississippi students lost significant ground in reading and math during the 2020-21 school year, according to statewide assessment results released by the Mississippi Department of Education.
Disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic led to unprecedented challenges for administrators, teachers, and students in 2020-21. For the first time since Mississippi Academic Assessment Program (MAAP) tests were first administered in 2016, student proficiency decreased in mathematics and English Language Arts (ELA). Students were last tested in 2019 and posted an all-time high for proficiency in math and ELA.
Leaders of Senatobia Municipal and Tate County School Districts were not immune to the demands of dealing with a pandemic last year while trying to educate students in an atypical setting.
Results from the MAAP test show Senatobia had 34.3% percent of its students test proficient in ELA, 39% in math, 58.6% in history and 51.7% in science in 2020-21, and scores dropped in three of four subjects when compared to 2018-19. State testing was suspended for the 2019-20 school year.
However, students at Senatobia High School scored above the state average proficiency level in Algebra I, Biology, and U.S. History last year.
“We began 2020-21 with over 40% of our students as distance learners but they persevered in spite of the challenges of the year,” explained Superintendent Chris Fleming. “We had more students excel in Advanced Placement and dual credit courses. We also had a 6.5% increase in graduation rate and 30% of the Senatobia High School graduating class of 2021 were Honor Graduates.”
Fleming said the district’s overall goal hasn’t changed and remains focused on achieving excellence for all.
“I want to commend our students, teachers, staff, and community who showed great fortitude in dealing with the myriad of difficulties caused by COVID-19 during the 2020-2021 school year,” he added.
Similar to statewide numbers, the Tate County School District experienced a dip in ELA and math.
Test results from MAAP show 26.5% of students in Tate County schools tested proficient in reading, 26.6% in math, 62% in history, and 48.1% in science. The district was above the state average in scale score and proficiency for Algebra and U.S. History.
Superintendent Alee’ Dixon said even though the 2020-21 school year was unprecedented with its confusion and tumultuousness, teachers, staff and students met every challenge with optimism and determination.
“We had 59% of our students learning in a traditional classroom and 41% of students learning virtually along with many days of hybrid and quarantines for staff, teachers, and students,” Dixon pointed out. “As we continue to educate our students, we are working diligently to address the learning loss that began in March of 2020. Together we will achieve team excellence in TCSD.”
State Superintendent Dr. Carey Wright said disruption and stress caused by COVID-19 has had an impact on student performance on every state in the country, which is why “this year establishes a new baseline for statewide assessments.”
“These assessment results provide valuable information about the impact the pandemic has had on learning and will identify where accelerated learning opportunities for students are most needed," Wright said.
State development teams focused on curriculum, mental health services and teacher development have already been deployed and are working with districts to start the process of getting students back on track, according to Wright.
The U.S. Department of Education waived a requirement that schools test 95% of students during the 2020-21 school year, but MDE strongly encouraged all schools and districts to test as many students as they possibly could, including full-time virtual learners who had to come back to campus to take the assessments.
“The participation rate for our assessments was 96.9%," Wright said. “That was huge for us. In fact, the previous rates in prior years were between 98% and 99%, so this is a ‘real hats’ off to teachers and leaders across the state who did the very best that they could to get all of our children in school and get them tested.”
