The Mississippi Department of Education recently released the retest scores for the 3^rd grade Reading Summative Assessment. An estimated 91 percent of third graders statewide achieved a passing score on the assessment, according to a press release from the Mississippi Department of Education.

In April, 85 percent of third graders statewide passed the first test. In May, school districts across Mississippi gave students who didn’t originally pass the assessment an opportunity to take a retest, according to the press release.

The new scores are available on the Mississippi Department of Education’s website. The new scores are the result of the combination of the original assessment and retest scores. The report states passing rate percentages are precise until they reach a rate of greater than 95 percent.

Originally, 77 percent of Nicholson Elementary students passed, 86 percent of Roseland Park Elementary students passed, 87 percent of South Side Elementary students passed and 92 percent of West Side Elementary students passed. The new scores show 88.73 percent of Nicholson Elementary students passed, 90.28 percent of Roseland Park Elementary students passed, greater than or equal to 95 percent of South Side Elementary students passed and greater than or equal to 95 percent of West Side Elementary students passed.

In the Poplarville school district, 94 percent of Poplarville Upper Elementary students originally passed and now the score shows greater than or equal to 95 percent of students passed.

In the Pearl River County School District, 99.5 percent of Pearl River Central Upper Elementary students originally passed and now the score shows greater than or equal to 95 percent passed.

Currently, there are 3,415 students statewide who haven’t passed the test. Those students who didn’t pass will be given a second retest opportunity from June 29 until August 7, according to the press release.

Students need to score at least a 926 on the assessment to be eligible for promotion to the fourth grade, the press release states.

PRC School District Special Education Director Mike Posey said students aren’t required to pass the assessment to move on to the fourth grade if they are considered to be significantly cognitively disabled or have already been retained.

“Students who are significantly cognitively disabled move on to the fourth grade regardless because their education plan is different from general education students,” Posey said.

The 2014-2015 school year is the first year third graders were required to pass a reading assessment in order to be promoted to the fourth grade due to the Mississippi Literacy-Based Promotion Act.

For more information, visit www.mde.k12.ms.us.