CPSD elementary performance ranks schools in top spots across the state

With the release of the 2026 MAAP student performance data from the Mississippi Department of Education, teachers and students across the Clinton Public School District (CPSD) have cause to celebrate.

Two Clinton grades are ranked in first place in the state for their performance, and others ranked in top five spots.

Eastside Elementary School’s fourth- and fifth-grade math and ELA scores all ranked within the top four across the state, with both fourth-grade ELA and fifth-grade math scores in the number one spot. Fourth-grade math scores ranked second, up from third in 2025, and fifth-grade ELA scores were ranked fourth state-wide.

Sixth graders at Lovett Elementary School are also ranked in the top ten. Lovett’s math scores placed the sixth-grade campus second, with ELA scores coming in sixth across Mississippi.

Clinton Junior High School (CJHS), CPSD’s seventh- and eighth-grade school, found itself in Mississippi’s Top 5 of mathematics for seventh and eighth grades and English Language Arts for eighth grade.

Eastside Principal Mandy Taylor praised the students and staff for their efforts.

“The credit of sustaining high levels of achievement consistently each year goes first to the amazing teachers and staff here at Eastside,” Taylor said. “They work tirelessly to develop students to their full capacity.”

Taylor added that credit to such success goes beyond the work put in on a daily basis from staff members.

“Credit also goes to the phenomenal students we have at Eastside and their parents who support the goal of excellence each day,” she said.

Lovett Principal Dr. Demetria Funchess also had praise for her students and staff.

“At Lovett, we are committed to creating a culture where students are engaged in meaningful learning experiences where they are challenged to reach excellence and encouraged to embrace growth,” Funchess said.

She pointed out the dedication her teachers demonstrate and model to students on a daily basis.

“These results are a reflection of the day-to-day impact that our teachers make in the lives of our students,” she said. “Students are thriving and, because of that, we continue to Love it at Lovett!”

With CJHS eighth graders’ scores ranking CJHS third in mathematics and fifth in ELA, and seventh-grade scores ranked the school fourth in mathematics, CJHS Principal Dr. Ivory Gray said the results are due to diligence of the students.

“These scores reflect exceptional hard work of our students and represent just one step in our ongoing journey to be elite,” he said.

“Success like this is never a solo effort. It stems from the daily commitment of our dedicated teachers, the support of our CJHS families and the determination of our students to grow every single day.”