Poplarville scores top in the state in biology assessment
Published 7:00 am Wednesday, September 11, 2019
- In back, Superintend Carl Merritt and Poplarville High School Principal Jon Will. In front, biology teachers Linda Patten, Debbie Burge, Michele Lee and Margo Sweet. The biology teachers were recognized for having the highest biology test scores in the state in 2018-2019. Photo by Cathy Cook.
The Poplarville School District was ranked top in the state by the Mississippi Department of Education for Biology I 2018 to 2019 test scores.
Throughout the state, 32,891 students took the biology test and 57.3 percent of those students scored levels 4 or 5, which indicate proficient or advanced, on the test. Level 3 indicates general mastery of the material. Test scores level 3 or above are needed to pass the test, and 78.3 percent of students in the state scored level 3 or above.
The assessment is given at the end of the school year.
In the Poplarville School District, 140 students took the test and 47.1 percent scored 4, while 41.4 percent scored a 5 on the test. This means 88.5 percent of the Poplarville students scored proficient or advanced on the biology test. There were 98.5 percent of Poplarville students who scored level 3 or above on the test.
The Poplarville School Board acknowledged the Poplarville High School biology teachers, Debbie Burge, Michele Lee, Margo Sweet, Linda Patten and Cruz Russell, for the high test scores at the Board meeting Monday.
“We’re proud of the students,” said Patten.
Superintendent Carl Merritt said he is very proud of the teachers for their difficult accomplishment.
“We’re proud to be part of a really good county school district,” Merritt said.
Mississippi introduced new and more rigorous science tests in 2018-2019, according to the Mississippi Department of Education website.
