The Mississippi Department of Education released its 2019-2020 Benchmark test results last week to statewide media outlets. The accountability scores – whether a district scored a A, B, C, D or F -- won’t be released until sometime in October.
In Carroll County, Superintendent Billy Joe Ferguson said he’s overall pleased with the effort given by students and teachers, with everything that went on during the semester.
In the middle of the semester, the Carroll County Board of Trustees voted to begin a Superintendent search.
Ferguson said the announcement sent a wave of doubt throughout the district and along with everything students deal with personally, they shouldered it and gave it their all. He said he knows the district has things they need to improve on, but he’s okay with the effort.
“I think they worked hard. There were some things that happened that had a negative impact on the district overall, but I didn’t see where students didn’t try on their test,” he said.
Ferguson said the results released are the performance results not the results that show growth, so he’s not sure how much the district has grown from the 2018-2019 school year, but he’s optimistic.
Students in grades 3-12 took statewide test on English, Math and Science. These scores, along with ACT scores taken by Juniors and Seniors, are all placed into a formula and helps the Department of Education come up with the combined accountability score.
Tests are graded by levels with Levels 1 and 2 being the lowest, Level 3 being the middle ground, and Levels 4 and 5 as proficient and advanced . If a students moves up a level, from a level 2 to a level 3, it shows growth and that also plays a part in the accountability rating.
At Marshall Elementary, on the third grade English test, 33.3 percent of students scored a Level 2 and 40 percent of students scored Levels 4 and 5. On the fourth grade English test, 33.3 percent of scored a Level 2, 35 percent scored a Level 3, and 23 percent scored Levels 4 and 5. On the fifth grade test, 30 percent scored a Level 2, 44 percent scored a Level 3, and 20 percent scored Levels 4 and 5.
On the third grade math test, 21 percent scored on Level 2, 22 percent scored on Level 3, and 54 percent scored on Levels 4 and 5. On the fourth grade math test, 28 percent scored a Level 2, 32 percent scored a Level 3 and 26 percent scored Levels 4 and 5. On the fifth grade math test, 15 percent scored on Level 2, 52 percent scored on Level 3, and 25 percent scored on Levels 4 and 5.
At J.Z. George High School, on the sixth grade English test, 31 percent scored a Level 2, 43 percent scored on Level 3, and 18 percent scored on Levels 4 and 5. On the seventh grade English test, 24 percent scored on Level 2, 36 percent scored on Level 3, and 36 percent scored on Levels 4 and 5.
On the eighth grade English test, 9 percent scored on Level 2, 52 percent scored on Level 3, and 30 percent scored on Levels 4 and 5. On the English II test, 14 percent scored on Level 2, 40 percent scored on Level 3, and 38 percent scored on Levels 4 and 5.
On the sixth grade math test, 29 percent scored on Level 2, 40 percent scored on Level 3 and 18 percent scored on Levels 4 and 5. On the seventh grade math test, 30 percent scored on Level 2, 39 percent scored on Level 3 and 27 percent scored on Levels 4 and 5.
On the eighth grade test, 44 percent scored on Level 2, 32 percent scored on Level 3, and 14 percent scored on Levels 4 and 5. On the Algebra I test, 12 percent scored on Level 2, 46 percent scored on Level 3, and 41 percent scored on Levels 4 and 5.
“We know what we need to improve on next year, and we’re currently looking at target areas, planning and making changes so we can improve,” he said.
He said with all the changes that have taken place in the district. There are some new faces in the district’s leadership with Dr. Wendy Hubbard, the district’s new Assistant Superintendent and Khalilah Tate, the new principal at Marshall Elementary.
He also said with Principal Coretta Green getting a new Assistant Principal, Nathan Moncrief, she has the help she needs, and he’s confident in her leadership.
“I’ve put people in place who are capable of achieving success, we want to be a successful district and have successful schools,” Ferguson said. “I think with the things we have in place now, we’ll see the improvement in scores this year.”
