Seminary Elementary School led Covington County’s English and math test scores in the results released Thursday, Aug. 15, by the state Department of Education.
Statewide, test results show student achievement has reached an all-time high in English Language Arts and mathematics. The 2018-19 Mississippi Academic Assessment Program measures student performance in ELA and mathematics in grades 3-8 and in high school English II and Algebra I.
Covington County Schools Superintendent Arnetta Crosby
Seminary Elementary School had four classes of the total eight results that achieved more than 40 percent in combined proficient or advanced in their subjects. The SES classes that reached the 40 percent plateau were fourth- and fifth-grade English (69.1 and 46.3 percent, respectively), while math test scores rated more than 40 percent in proficient or advanced in third (57.7 percent) and fourth grades (70.2 percent).
The other Covington County classes that ranked high in proficient or advanced were Mount Olive’s fourth-grade math (40.6 percent), eighth-grade math (50.0 percent) and Algebra I (52.1 percent), and Seminary Middle School’s seventh-grade math (43.9 percent).
In 2018-19, ELA achievement has increased from 33.6 percent to 41.6 percent of students scoring proficient or advanced. Students scoring proficient or advanced in mathematics has jumped from 33.0 percent to 47.3 percent.
Mississippi’s plan for improving student achievement calls for at least 70 percent of all students to be proficient in ELA and mathematics by 2025.
“Mississippi students are outpacing the nation in learning gains thanks to their hard work and the hard work of teachers, school staff, school leaders, and parents,” said Dr. Carey Wright, state superintendent of education. “Education in Mississippi is part of our state’s success story.”
MAAP tests have five levels. Students scoring at Levels 4 and 5 are considered proficient or advanced in the subject.
While no single test can give a complete picture of achievement, annual assessments can provide important information about student progress and areas for improvement, especially when combined with student grades and teacher feedback.
In Covington County, test scores in the proficient and advanced results combined by subject were:
Third-grade English (District 42.7 percent) – Collins Elementary, 40.0 percent; Hopewell Elementary, 27.3 percent; Mount Olive, 44.4 percent; Seminary Elementary, 52.6 percent.
Fourth-grade English (District 45.8 percent) – Collins Elementary, 41.2 percent; Hopewell Elementary, 13.6 percent; Mount Olive, 31.3 percent; Seminary Elementary, 69.1 percent.
Fifth-grade English (District 39.9 percent) – Carver Middle, 31.5 percent; Hopewell Elementary, 20.0 percent; Mount Olive, 25.8 percent; Seminary Middle, 46.3 percent.
Sixth-grade English (District 22.3 percent) – Carver Middle, 13.3 percent; Hopewell Elementary, 11.1 percent; Mount Olive, 30.8 percent; Seminary Middle, 33.3 percent.
Seventh-grade English (District 21.5 percent) – Carver Middle, 6.5 percent; Mount Olive, 30.8 percent; Seminary Middle, 28.5 percent.
Eighth-grade English (District 24.6 percent) – Carver Middle, 14.3; Mount Olive, 18.2 percent; Seminary Middle, 31.0 percent.
English II (District 34.1 percent) – Collins High, 28.9 percent; Mount Olive, 23.3 percent; Seminary High, 40.0 percent.
Third-grade Math (District 37.6 percent) – Collins Elementary, 38.0 percent; Hopewell Elementary, 4.6 percent; Mount Olive, 33.3 percent; Seminary Elementary, 57.7 percent.
Fourth-grade Math (District 45.4 percent) – Collins Elementary, 36.7 percent; Hopewell Elementary, 9.1 percent; Mount Olive, 38.6 percent; Seminary Elementary, 70.2 percent.
Fifth-grade Math (District 20.7 percent) – Carver Middle, 20.4 percent; Hopewell Elementary, 31.5 percent; Mount Olive, 16.1 percent; Seminary Middle, 18.6 percent.
Sixth-grade Math (District 31.8 percent) – Carver Middle, 8.0 percent; Mount Olive, 30.8 percent; Seminary Middle, 47.1 percent.
Seventh-grade Math (District 33.6 percent) – Carver Middle, 23.4 percent; Mount Olive, 23.1 percent; Seminary Middle, 43.9 percent.
Eighth-grade Math (District 26.9 percent) – Carver Middle, 8.2 percent; Mount Olive, 50.0 percent; Seminary Middle, 31.0 percent.
Algebra I (District 39.3 percent) – Seminary High, 52.1 percent; Mount Olive, 20.0 percent; Collins High, 27.2 percent.