Marion County sees 81% pass, 78% in Columbia
Third graders in Columbia and Marion County did better than the state average on the test that determines whether they’ll pass to fourth grade.
Marion County saw 81.4 percent make at least a 3 on the so-called “third-grade gate” on their first try, while the Columbia pass rate was 78.2 percent. The state average was 74.5 percent.
The Mississippi Department of Education released the results Wednesday. This was the first year students had to make a 3, which the state classifies as “passing.” Previously the standard was 2, defined as “basic.” Last year 6.8 percent of students did not pass the test by making at least a 2, and state education officials had expected that number to rise this year based on the new, tougher requirement.
The numbers this year are based on the first of three potential tries. The Associated Press reported students who did not pass have already taken the exam a second time, but those results aren’t available yet. They’ll have a third chance after summer school.
West Marion Primary had the best scores in the county at 88.3 percent followed by Columbia Elementary at 78.2 percent and East Marion Elementary at 73 percent.
“I would like to say congratulations to students, teachers, support staff and administrators in K-3 for making Marion County School District one of the top districts in the state,” Superintendent Wendy Bracey said in a statement. “MCSD ranked 38th out of about 140 districts reporting data on the Reading Gate.”
Bracey said teachers are working with students to prepare them for success, and they believe that after two retests 95-plus percent of students will pass.
West Marion Primary Principal Vicki Boone said in a statement that the scores “are a direct result of amazing students and teachers.”
“Throughout the year, students set personal goals, and teachers used data to drive instruction to enhance the academic success,” she said. “I have high expectations for this group of third grade students and can’t wait to see the final results on the state MAAP test which will include the writing.
Chase Robbins, principal at East Marion Elementary, said in a statement that he was excited about the scores, congratulating students for their hard work and thanking teachers.
Columbia Elementary School Principal Robert White said he was proud of how hard the staff and students worked.
“It is a lot of pressure on 8 and 9 year old students, but they handle it well,” White said.
“We did well; we are striving to do better. The students gave it their all,” Columbia Superintendent Jason Harris said.
Chickasaw County had the state’s best pass rate at 94.1 percent followed by Newton County (92.5 percent) and Madison County (91.5 percent). Yazoo City had the lowest rate with only 32.4 percent passing .
