Mississippi students score higher than ever on tests

By By Lynette Wilson / staff writer
July 19, 2002
State Superintendent of Education Richard Thompson announced Thursday that Mississippi students scored higher than ever on national and state tests.
In May, students in grades second through eighth took the Mississippi Curriculum Test designed to determine what students are learning in the classroom and assess their reading, language and math skills. It was the second year the test was given.
And, for the third year, fifth and eighth graders were given the Terra Nova, a national achievement test.
Comparing the same students who took the MCT across two years, 2002 scores were higher than 2001 scores in all content areas and in all grade levels, Thompson said.
Students performed almost as well on the national level.
Results from the national achievement test indicated Mississippi fifth graders are at or above the national average in all content areas. Eighth graders are at or above the national average in reading and language, but below the national average in math.
Thompson noted that scores in both grade levels were higher than the 2000 and 2001 scores.
Scores of local schools are expected to be released next week.