NEWS RELEASE

Release Date: November 1, 2011
Contact: Wendy Polk, APR, Director of Communications, 601-359-3706

Female students make significant math gains
NAEP scores of Mississippi students reflect minimal growth

JACKSON, Mississippi (November 1, 2011) – Mississippi’s eighth-grade students were among only 13 states to show statistically significant gains in math since 2009.  Like many states in the nation, Mississippi students showed a slight improvement in the percentage of students scoring at the Proficient or Advanced levels on the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) assessments.

In 2011, 19 percent of eighth-grade students in Mississippi scored Proficient or Advanced in math, compared to 15 percent in 2009. In fourth-grade math, the percent scoring Proficient or Advanced improved to 25 percent, up from 22 percent in 2009.  

One unique component in Mississippi’s results is an increase in test scores of eighth-grade females from 2009 to 2011. The overall math scale score increased seven points for female students over the two years, compared to a two point increase in eighth-grade males during the same time. All eighth-grade students who took the NAEP assessment that were eligible for free and reduced lunch also improved their overall math scores by four points when comparing 2009 to 2011.

“Although we mirror the majority of states in the nation in terms of minimal growth, we are disappointed that we did not see the significant increases that will help Mississippi close the achievement gap in comparison with other states,” said State Superintendent Dr. Tom Burnham.  “While Mississippi students did make improvements related to math scores, the results of the reading assessment make it clear that we must continue to raise the bar so our students will be ready to compete and succeed in a global society.”

Mississippi’s NAEP reading scores showed little change from the last assessment in 2009. In 2011, 22 percent of fourth-grade students in Mississippi scored Proficient or Advanced, unchanged from 2009. In eighth-grade reading the percent scoring Proficient or Advanced improved to 21 percent, up from 19 percent in 2009.

Not every student in the state participates in the NAEP assessment, which is administered every two years.  In Mississippi, a representative sample of approximately 3,000 students per subject and grade randomly selected by the National Center for Education Statistics participated in the NAEP assessments in 2011. The students selected to participate in this assessment mirror the demographics of the state.

A more rigorous math curriculum and state assessment, the Mississippi Curriculum Test – Second Edition (MCT 2), was implemented for students in grades three through eighth in 2007.  The current NAEP results represent about four years under the new curriculum and assessment. Last year, the Mississippi Board of Education voted to adopt the Common Core State Standards. Common Core is not a federal program, but rather a state-led initiative that has been adopted by 44 states committed to developing standards for proficiency in English language arts and mathematics in grades K-12. This initiative is important because it provides consistency across the states, helps students prepare to compete globally and allows for the development of a common assessment.

“Mississippi’s commitment to Common Core State Standards and PARCC (Partnership for Assessment of Readiness for College and Careers) will provide our students with internationally benchmarked curriculum and assessments,” said Dr. Burnham. “We must maintain our commitment to high standards and high expectations for our students.”

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