JACKSON, Miss. (WJTV) – The Mississippi Department of Education (MDE) announced 25,399 (77.3%) of third graders passed the initial administration of the third-grade reading assessment given this spring for the 2024-25 school year. This is a record-high number of third graders who passed the test, according to the agency.

“These results are outstanding. The MDE applauds all educators and families across the state that make literacy a priority,” said Dr. Lance Evans, state superintendent of education. “With a continued emphasis on the science of reading as well as implementation of high-quality instructional materials, we believe Mississippi students will continue to make progress.”

A total of 32,839 third graders took the assessment. In 2023-24, 75.7% of third graders passed the initial administration of the reading assessment. After the final retests in 2023-24, 84% of third graders passed the test.

In accordance with the Literacy-Based Promotion Act (LBPA), third graders who do not pass the initial administration of the reading test are given up to two attempts to retest. Students who did not pass the initial reading assessment retested in early May. The second retest window is June 16-27.

To see the district- and school-level initial pass rate report for 2024-25, click here.

According to MDE, the final district-level pass rates will be published this fall in the Literacy-Based Promotion Act Annual Report of Performance and Student Retention for the 2024-25 school year.