School Test Scores Now Available to Public

JACKSON, Miss. – Statewide test results for the 2014 Mississippi Curriculum Test, Second Edition (MCT2) and the Subject Area Testing Program, Second Edition (SATP2) are now available to the public.

Passing rates for each public school district as well as for the state as a whole can be found at: http://reports.mde.k12.ms.us/report1/r2013-14.aspx

The majority of Mississippi students scored proficient or advanced at every grade level on the 2014 MCT2 and on the SATP2, according to test scores released today by the Mississippi Department of Education. Although most students scored proficient or higher on the MCT2, the overall percentage of these students dropped.

“The performance levels on state tests were lower this year as expected because the 2014 tests were not aligned to Mississippi’s higher academic standards,” said Dr. Carey Wright, state superintendent of education. “We are looking forward to implementing the state’s new assessments in 2015, which will provide a more meaningful measure of what students are currently learning in class.”

During the 2013-14 academic year, schools statewide fully transitioned to learning objectives designed to better prepare students for college and the workforce. Because of this transition to higher standards, most grade levels saw an expected drop in proficiency rates on the 2014 tests.

The MCT2 was given to students in grades 3 through 8 in English language arts and math. This test, which is being phased out, was first implemented in the 2007-8 school year. This academic year, students will take English language arts and math assessments developed by the Partnership for Assessment of Readiness for College and Careers. These assessments were field tested by close to 51,000 Mississippi students last spring.

In the SATP2, students were tested in Algebra I, Biology I, English II, and U.S. History. The percentage of students passing Biology I, English II, and U.S. History dropped 1 percent from last year, and the percentage passing Algebra I fell by 2 percent.

High school students must earn a passing score on each test to be eligible for graduation. The test results represent first-time test takers. Students generally have up to three opportunities each year to earn a passing score on the SAPT2 exams during high school.

The assessment results will help determine performance classifications for schools and districts using the State’s accountability model, which classifies schools from highest to lowest, A-F.

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