The strength of Lamar County’s educational foundation showed in the successful English and math test scores that were released by the state Department of Education recently, according to Superintendent Tess Smith.
Test results statewide show student achievement 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.
Smith said Lamar County’s scores are “good all across the board.”
Lamar County Schools Superintendent Tess Smith
“There are pockets of really good stuff; that’s always the case,” she said, adding some of the older students did well. “Our proficiency in Algebra I ranked 13th in the state, so it wasn’t just the younger kids who did well.”
“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.
Smith stressed that the tests are more than just numbers on a computer screen.
“It’s those other things that make this come together – everybody building relationships with each other and with students,” she said. “I think that is the foundation. Like I tell teachers: If kids believe that you truly care about them, they are going to work harder for you than anyone else. I think that is what we are seeing reflected here.”
In Lamar County, test scores in the proficient and advanced results combined by subject were:
Third-grade English (District, 62.5 percent) – Baxterville, 81.5 percent; Longleaf Elementary, 59.2 percent; Lumberton Elementary, 54.5 percent; Oak Grove Lower Elementary, 61.9 percent; Purvis Upper Elementary, 78.2 percent; Sumrall Elementary, 78.2 percent.
Fourth-grade English (District, 60.0 percent) – Baxterville, 38.9 percent; Longleaf Elementary, 65.8 percent; Lumberton Elementary, 36.3 percent; Oak Grove Upper Elementary, 62.6 percent; Purvis Upper Elementary, 56.8 percent; Sumrall Elementary, 61.5 percent.
Fifth-grade English (District, 53.5 percent) – Baxterville, 55.1 percent; Longleaf Elementary, 59.7 percent; Lumberton Elementary, 32.0 percent; Oak Grove Upper Elementary, 53.6 percent; Purvis Upper Elementary, 52.9 percent; Sumrall Elementary, 55.7 percent.
Sixth-grade English (District, 44.8 percent) – Baxterville, 54.5 percent; Lumberton Middle, 25.0 percent; Oak Grove Middle, 50.5 percent; Purvis Middle, 43.3 percent; Sumrall Middle, 51.1 percent.
Seventh-grade English (District, 47.6 percent) – Baxterville, 38.1 percent; Lumberton Middle, 22.5 percent; Oak Grove Middle, 53.5 percent; Purvis Middle, 35.9 percent; Sumrall Middle, 50.9 percent.
Eighth-grade English (District, 50.9 percent) – Baxterville, 62.6 percent; Lumberton Middle, 31.0 percent; Oak Grove Middle, 49.7 percent; Purvis Middle, 53.2 percent; Sumrall Middle, 53.9 percent.
English II (District, 58.9 percent) – Lumberton High, 44.5 percent; Oak Grove High, 63.1 percent; Purvis High, 56.7 percent; Sumrall High, 52.9 percent.
Third-grade Math (District, 68.6 percent) – Baxterville, 59.2 percent; Longleaf Elementary, 70.8 percent; Lumberton Elementary, 36.4 percent; Oak Grove Lower Elementary, 70.6 percent; Purvis Upper Elementary, 43.9 percent;Sumrall Elementary, 86.4 percent.
Fourth-grade Math (District, 58.6 percent) – Baxterville, 55.5 percent; Longleaf Elementary, 65.8 percent; Lumberton Elementary, 9.0 percent; Oak Grove Upper Elementary, 63.1 percent; Purvis Upper Elementary, 53.2 percent; Sumrall Elementary, 61.5 percent.
Fifth-grade Math (District, 52.0 percent) – Baxterville, 41.4 percent; Longleaf Elementary, 61.4 percent; Lumberton Elementary, 22.7 percent; Oak Grove Upper Elementary, 53.6 percent; Purvis Upper Elementary, 40.7 percent; Sumrall Elementary, 62.7 percent.
Sixth-grade Math (District, 65.0 percent) – Baxterville, 72.8 percent; Lumberton Middle, 42.3 percent; Oak Grove Middle, 71.3 percent; Purvis Middle, 51.1 percent; Sumrall Middle, 65.2 percent.
Seventh-grade Math (District, 65.7 percent) – Baxterville, 52.4 percent; Lumberton Middle, 36.7 percent; Oak Grove Middle, 70.4 percent; Purvis Middle, 63.3 percent; Sumrall Middle, 66.3 percent.
Eighth-grade Math (District, 661.4 percent) – Baxterville, 53.2 percent; Lumberton Middle, 34.4 percent; Oak Grove Middle, 64.1 percent; Purvis Middle, 47.6 percent; Sumrall Middle, 73.0 percent.
Algebra I (District, 67.6 percent) – Oak Grove High, 73.9 percent; Sumrall High, 55.4 percent; Lumberton High, 14.0 percent; Purvis High, 51.3 percent; Sumrall Middle, 100 percent; Oak Grove Middle, 98.5 percent; Purvis Middle, 100 percent.