Following a preliminary release of test scores by the Mississippi Department of Education, the Simpson County School Board has determined that it is premature to release final scores until October.
The results of the 2017-2018 test scores had been embargoed from publication by the media until last Thursday. However, results of the scoring got out and to the displeasure of many the results will be reevaluated based on percentile rankings and baseline scores for accountability.
Simpson County schools showed some improvement, particularly Magee Elementary, which moved to a high B rating. Simpson Central was able to maintain their B rating, but the rest of the district did not fare so well.
This most recent evaluation showed that Mendenhall High School, which had a B rating last year, dropped to a D rating. Magee High School has a D rating. Mendenhall Jr. High rated an F, and Mendenhall Elementary a C.
Overall, the Simpson County School District rated a D.
The rating system itself is tied not only to actual scores but also to growth. In a subject area, students must show x amount of improvement over the previous year for the school to get higher grade ratings.
The graduation rate for Mendenhall High is 81.9 percent and for Magee High, 80.2 percent.
Mendenhall High has a proficiency rate in reading of 44.4 percent. The Math proficiency rating is 20.9 percent. History proficiency rating is 40.8 percent and Science proficiency rating is 51.4 percent.
Magee High has a proficiency rate in Reading of 33.7 percent. The Math proficiency rating is 10.9 percent, and in Science it is 43.3 percent. In History, Magee’s proficiency level is 33.3 percent.
Superintendent Greg Paes said the State Department of Education changes the system for scoring every year and it makes it difficult to “deal with a moving target every year.” He said he was meeting with representatives from the state on Monday to determine how the state came up with this year’s rating scale.
Final results and ratings should be released by the state following the State Board of Education meeting in October.
