State Department of Education releases 2025-26 academic assessment program scores

August 22, 2026 - 20:19

English language arts held steady, with roughly 48 percent of students meeting proficiency benchmarks. Math, however, dipped a bit, landing at about 54 percent proficient, down slightly from the prior cycle. Education officials framed the overall picture as a mixed bag, noting that while science gains are encouraging, the plateau in reading and the small step back in math show there is still work to do.

On the coast, local districts told a more specific story. Bay-Waveland and Ocean Springs both posted numbers above the state average in multiple categories, according to preliminary data shared by the department. Bay-Waveland saw particular strength in third-grade reading, while Ocean Springs performed well in algebra and biology end-of-course exams. District leaders said they plan to use the detailed breakdowns to target tutoring and intervention programs this fall.

The full dataset, including school-level breakdowns, is expected to be posted on the department's website in the coming weeks. State officials noted that the assessment program will continue in its current form for the next cycle, with no major changes planned.