CPSD schools place in top categories with release of state test scores

Special to The Clinton Courier

With the recent release of the 2025 MAAP student performance data from the Mississippi Department of Education, teachers and students in several Clinton Public School District schools find themselves at the top of the rankings or showing growth and improvement.

Clinton Junior High School

Clinton Junior High School (CJHS) found themselves in the top five of both mathematics and English Language Arts (ELA) for both seventh and eighth grades.
Seventh-grade scores ranked CJHS fifth in mathematics and fourth in ELA.
Eighth-grade scores ranked CJHS third in both mathematics and ELA.
CJHS Principal Dr. Ivory Gray said the pride he has in his staff and students is immeasurable.
“These results are a testament to the hard work and dedication of our entire school community, from our diligent students and their supportive families to our phenomenal teachers who pour their hearts into their work every day,” he said.
Gray followed up saying the commitment to such success is humbling, as well.
“We’re celebrating this success together, as it truly belongs to everyone at CJHS.”

Lovett Elementary

CPSD’s sixth-grade campus, Lovett, also saw notable growth.
Sixth-grade ELA assessment scores ranked Lovett third in the state.
Lovett’s mathematics scores placed the sixth-grade campus fifteenth in the state.
“I am incredibly proud of the dedication and growth demonstrated by both our teachers and students,” Lovett Principal Dr. Demetria Funches said. “Their progress is a clear reflection of our shared commitment to maximizing every moment. This is another reason why we Love it at Lovett!”

Eastside Elementary

Clinton’s Eastside Elementary teachers and students found their mathematics and English Language Arts scores in the top tier of the state.
Eastside’s fifth-grade scores ranked number one in the state, continuing into the third year of fifth-grade math at the top of the state.
Eastside’s fourth-grade scores came in as second in the state for 2025.
Fourth-grade ELA ranked fifth statewide, and fifth-grade ELA rankings rose to fourth, after ranking fifth in 2024.
Eastside Principal Mandy Taylor praised the students and staff for their efforts.
“Day after day, the teachers and staff put student learning as their very top priority, turning classrooms into places of inspiration, kindness and limitless possibilities,” she said. “They’re not just teaching, they are changing lives.”
Taylor added that the dedication of the teachers at Eastside is matched by the students and their parents regularly.
“Our students and their parents work extra hard to achieve at high levels,” she said. “It’s all interconnected, and everyone has an integral role.”

Northside Elementary

Last year’s third graders at Northside Elementary School placed in the top ten of third-grade students across the state in English Language Arts and mathematics.
Clinton’s group of third-grade students ranked fourth statewide in math, improving from seventh in 2024.
These Northside students also ranked seventh statewide in ELA, rising from tenth the previous year.
Northside Principal Mandy Ambrose said two main factors contributed to this continued success – the dedication of the teachers and the impact of support staff.
“Our teachers spend countless hours diving into student data and adjusting the curriculum to meet the needs of each new class,” she said. “They understand that every group of students is unique, with different strengths and challenges, and they never settle for a one-size-fits-all approach.”
Ambrose added that those teachers who provide enrichment and encouragement outside the regular classroom play a pivotal role, as well.
“They provide individualized instruction and encouragement, giving our students that extra boost they need to reach their fullest potential.”

Science Scores

According to Mississippi Department of Education’s 2025 student performance science data, Clinton’s science scores again ranked the district in the top-tier.
Fifth graders at Eastside ranked third in the state on the fifth-grade MAAP science test, moving up from fourth in the state the previous year.
Eighth graders at CJHS ranked second in the state, improving from thirteenth in 2024.
Unlike English Language Arts and mathematics, which are tested every year, science scores come from testing students in fifth grade and eighth grade.