CPSD has exemplary test scores – again

Special to The Clinton Courier

     The Mississippi Department of Education recently released student performance data, and Clinton Public School District students have positioned their schools near the top statewide.

     Eastside Elementary students’ State test scores placed their school in the top five, Northside Elementary sits in the top ten, and Clinton High School (CHS) and Sumner Hill Junior High School are in the top fifteen. Eastside’s fourth and fifth grade math scores ranked number one in the state for the second consecutive year, and Clinton Junior High School (CJHS) found themselves at the top of both mathematics and English Language Arts rankings.

     “We are excited to celebrate our students’ impressive performance on the MAAP [Mississippi Academic Assessment Program],” CJHS principal Dr. Ivory Gray said. “Their exceptional achievements are a reflection of their hard work and dedication, as well as the outstanding support provided by our dedicated staff and previous principal, Ms. Timikia Billings.”

     Eighth-grade scores ranked CJHS second in the state for mathematics and ninth in the state for English Language Arts (ELA).

     Seventh-grade scores ranked CJHS third in the state for ELA and fourth in the state for mathematics.

     “These results showcase our collective commitment to academic excellence and motivate us to keep pushing toward even greater success,” Dr. Gray added.

     Clinton High School’s English II scores ranked them eighth in the state, an impressive improvement from the previous year.

     Clinton’s Biology I and Algebra I scores placed CHS and Sumner Hill in the top fifteen statewide.

     Clinton’s Biology I score is calculated by combined assessment outcomes from students enrolled in Biology I at CHS and Sumner Hill.

     The district’s Algebra I score is the combination of scores from students enrolled in Algebra I at CHS, Sumner Hill and Clinton Junior High School.

     “We are very pleased with our proficiency numbers, and this is a tribute to the hard work our students and teachers put in on a daily basis,” CHS principal Dr. Brian Fortenberry said. “Now we get to begin this process again, and work to continue improving each day.”

     Last year’s third graders at Northside Elementary School placed in the top ten of third-grade students across the state in ELA and mathematics.

     Clinton’s crop of third graders ranked seventh statewide in math and tenth statewide in ELA.

     “I am incredibly proud of the unwavering effort and passion our teachers bring to Northside every single day,” Northside Elementary’s principal Mandy Ambrose said. “Their commitment to fostering excellence in the classroom is truly inspiring.”

     Ambrose said her teachers find unique ways to inspire their students, pointing out that their efforts on campus go beyond just teaching academic lessons.

     “It’s about creating an environment where every student feels supported, challenged and empowered to achieve their best,” Ambrose said.

     In addition to having the highest math scores of fourth- and fifth-graders, Eastside’s fourth-grade ELA ranked third statewide for the second straight year, and fifth-grade ELA rankings rose to fifth, after ranking eighth in 2023.

     Fifth-grade science scores saw Eastside ranked fourth, rising from fifth the previous year.

     “I am so very proud of our teachers, students, and parents at Eastside Elementary,” Eastside principal Mandy Taylor said. “It takes a village to effectively grow students academically and emotionally.”