Thousands fail 3rd grade reading tests: See the best, worst districts

Districts across Mississippi may be dismissing for summer break this week, but it’s crunch time for thousands of third-graders who failed the state’s literacy promotion exam. 

The state Department of Education on Thursday said nearly 9,000 students or 1 in 4 third-graders failed the first round of Mississippi’s “third-grade gate” reading assessment. They could be held back from fourth grade next year.

(See list below: top, bottom school districts on reading test passage rates)

The Literacy Based Promotion Act requires third-graders to obtain a certain reading score to advance to fourth grade.

This year students faced a tougher grading standard. The ultimate goal of Mississippi’s “third-grade gate” is to push more students to read at or above grade level before entering fourth-grade. In order to pass, students have to show that they’re approaching grade level.

In the past, third-graders only had to demonstrate basic reading comprehension skills.

Although three in four of the state’s third-graders passed the exam on the first try, the average passing rate masks the hurdles some school districts and schools still face.

The Chickasaw County School District, for example, posted the highest passing rate in the state  with 94 percent of students clearing the tougher bar in the first round.

In comparison, Yazoo City Schools face the state’s heaviest lift. Only 32 percent of students in the school system located in north west Mississippi, passed on the first try.

Here’s a breakdown of  pass rates by district:

Top 10 pass rates

Chickasaw County School District 94 %

Newton County School District 93 %

Madison County School District 92 %

New Albany Public Schools 89 %

Petal School District 89 %

Long Beach School District 89 %

Pearl Public School District 88 %

Clinton Public School District 88 %

Oxford School District 88 %

Choctaw County School District 88%

Bottom 10 pass rates

Moss Point School District 50 %

West Tallahatchie School District 50 %

Greenwood Public School District 50 %

Jefferson County School District 50 %

South Delta School District 46 %

North Bolivar Consolidated School District 46 %

Noxubee County School School District 44 %

Clarksdale Municipal School District 40 %

Leflore County School District 39 %

Yazoo City Municipal School District 32 %

More:Third graders take the big test. Will they make it to fourth grade?

More:She teaches 4th grade at an 'F' school in a poor Mississippi town. Here's why she stays.

More:Gov. Phil Bryant calls for teacher raise, recounts achievements in final State-of-the-State Address

Contact Bracey Harris at 601-961-7248 or bharris2@gannett.com. Follow her on Twitter.