Among our state’s greatest treasures – hands down, without question, day-in and day-out: Mississippi’s public school TEACHERS!
They come in early, stay late, and work countless miracles to ensure that all Mississippi children get a shot at a bright future. The result has been phenomenal.
Earlier this year, the Mississippi Department of Education (MDE) reported these extraordinary rankings on the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP, or the Nation’s Report Card) for Mississippi’s public school students compared to students in all states (plus Department of Defense Schools):
- 9th in the nation in Grade 4 Reading
- 16th in Grade 4 Math
- 35th in Grade 8 Math
- 41st in Grade 8 Reading
- Mississippi’s African American 4th-graders rank 3rd in the nation in reading and math among African American students in all states
- Mississippi’s Hispanic 4th-graders rank first in the nation in reading and second in math among Hispanic students in all states
- Mississippi’s economically disadvantaged 4th-graders rank first in the nation in reading and second in math among economically disadvantaged students in all states
These incredible results achieved by our teachers, assistant teachers, and their students translate to benefits for every Mississippian – including those who do not have children in public schools. Strong public schools mean strong communities, with enhanced economic development, higher incomes, lower crime rates, and a better quality of life for us all.
This is Teacher Appreciation Week – the perfect time to express our gratitude to the selfless teachers and assistants whose investment in our children pays dividends in every city and county across our state.
THANK YOU, TEACHERS, for moving Mississippi forward one student, one classroom, one school year at a time! What a blessing!
