Mississippi
Record number of Mississippi third-graders pass reading assessment; see how local districts performed – Mississippi's Best Community Newspaper
Record number of Mississippi third-graders pass reading assessment; see how local districts performed
Published 12:48 pm Thursday, May 15, 2025
NATCHEZ – A record high number of Mississippi third-graders passed the state reading assessment on the first attempt this spring, prompting praise from statewide education leaders.
“These results are outstanding. The MDE applauds all educators and families across the state that make literacy a priority,” said Dr. Lance Evans, state superintendent of education. “With a continued emphasis on the science of reading as well as implementation of high-quality instructional materials, we believe Mississippi students will continue to make progress.”
A total of 32,839 third graders took the assessment. In 2023-24, 75.7% of third graders passed the initial administration of the reading assessment. After the final retests in 2023-24, 84% of third graders passed the test.
In accordance with the Literacy-Based Promotion Act (LBPA), third graders who do not pass the initial administration of the reading test are given up to two attempts to retest. Students who did not pass the initial reading assessment retested in early May. The second retest window is June 16 – 27.
Area district performance included:
Natchez-Adams County School District
McLaurin Elementary School, 74.2% pass rate
Amite County School District
Amite County Elementary, 61.5% pass rate
Claiborne County School District
A.W. Watson Elementary, 64.4% pass rate
Franklin County School District
Franklin County Lower Elementary, 82.2% pass rate
Jefferson County School District
Jefferson County Elementary, 84%
Wilkinson County School District
Wilkinson County Elementary, 45% pass rate
The LBPA became law in 2013 to improve reading skills of kindergarten through third-grade students in public schools so every student completing the third grade is able to read at or above grade level. The LBPA requires Mississippi third graders to pass a reading assessment to qualify for promotion to fourth grade. Some students may qualify for good cause exemptions to be promoted to fourth grade.
An amendment to the law in 2016 raised reading-level expectations starting in the 2018-19 school year, requiring third graders to score at level three or higher on the reading portion of the Mississippi Academic Assessment Program (MAAP) English Language Arts (ELA) assessment.
Click here to see the district- and school-level initial pass rate report for 2024-25.
Final district-level pass rates will be published this fall in the Literacy-Based Promotion Act Annual Report of Performance and Student Retention for the 2024-25 school year.
Odds of winning the Powerball and Mega Millions are NOT in your favor
Odds of hitting the jackpot in Mega Millions or Powerball are around 1-in-292 million. Here are things that you’re more likely to land than big bucks.
The Mississippi Lottery offers several draw games for those aiming to win big.
Here’s a look at May 3, 2026, results for each game:
Winning Mississippi Match 5 numbers from May 3 drawing
03-11-18-21-32
Check Mississippi Match 5 payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Cash 3 numbers from May 3 drawing
Midday: 2-9-1, FB: 1
Evening: 3-7-0, FB: 9
Check Cash 3 payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Cash 4 numbers from May 3 drawing
Midday: 0-9-3-4, FB: 1
Evening: 0-4-4-7, FB: 9
Check Cash 4 payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Cash Pop numbers from May 3 drawing
Midday: 01
Evening: 03
Check Cash Pop payouts and previous drawings here.
Feeling lucky? Explore the latest lottery news & results
Story continues below gallery.
Are you a winner? Here’s how to claim your lottery prize
Winnings of $599 or less can be claimed at any authorized Mississippi Lottery retailer.
Prizes between $600 and $99,999, may be claimed at the Mississippi Lottery Headquarters or by mail. Mississippi Lottery Winner Claim form, proper identification (ID) and the original ticket must be provided for all claims of $600 or more. If mailing, send required documentation to:
Mississippi Lottery Corporation
P.O. Box 321462
Flowood, MS
39232
If your prize is $100,000 or more, the claim must be made in person at the Mississippi Lottery headquarters. Please bring identification, such as a government-issued photo ID and a Social Security card to verify your identity. Winners of large prizes may also have the option of setting up electronic funds transfer (EFT) for direct deposits into a bank account.
Mississippi Lottery Headquarters
1080 River Oaks Drive, Bldg. B-100
Flowood, MS
39232
Mississippi Lottery prizes must be claimed within 180 days of the drawing date. For detailed instructions and necessary forms, please visit the Mississippi Lottery claim page.
When are the Mississippi Lottery drawings held?
- Cash 3: Daily at 2:30 p.m. (Midday) and 9:30 p.m. (Evening).
- Cash 4: Daily at 2:30 p.m. (Midday) and 9:30 p.m. (Evening).
- Match 5: Daily at 9:30 p.m. CT.
- Cash Pop: Daily at 2:30 p.m. (Midday) and 9:30 p.m. (Evening).
This results page was generated automatically using information from TinBu and a template written and reviewed by a Mississippi editor. You can send feedback using this form.
There is a nickname associated with the storied Texas Longhorns baseball program, on signage around UFCU Disch-Falk, seemingly at every corner, that reads, “The University of Texas at Omaha.”
It’s the truth, the Longhorns have appeared in the most College World Series in college baseball history. But it’s a daunting expectation that comes with living up to the mantra of ending the season as one of the final eight teams in Omaha.
For the past two conference series between Vanderbilt and in its current matchup with No. 10 Mississippi State, the Longhorns’ bats haven’t exhibited the same fury as they did earlier in conference play.
The Longhorns have only scored 11 runs in their past 36 innings at the plate.
This Mississippi State Series is Texas’ Final Test
Around this time last season, the wheels were falling off the wagon for the Longhorns, getting swept by Arkansas and losing its final home series to Florida before the SEC Tournament and ultimately losing in the Austin Regional to UTSA.
While last season’s woes were a combination of starting pitching struggles due to Jared Spencer being knocked down with a season-ending arm injury and the bats struggling to produce, the latter is starting to peek its ugly head into this May.
Saturday’s game against the Bulldogs at the plate was reminiscent of last season. The Longhorns’ situational hitting was struggling mightily, and the top producers, like Carson Tinney or Anthony Pack Jr., never got the right pitch to dive in crucial runs.
By the end of the afternoon, Texas batters left a combined 17 runners on base, with four loaded bases situations in the final four innings, allowing Mississippi State to force a rubber match on Sunday.
Despite losing with that many runners left on base, head coach Jim Schlossnagle wasn’t too worried about heading into Sunday’s game.
“I think they’re in a good spot,” Schlossnagle said. “The results can cover up some really good things.”
The Bulldogs are an Omaha quality team under Brian O’Connor, and Schlossnagle remarked on that fact pre-series media availability on Thursday and it will be the last true test on the schedule before Hoover and the Regional.
Granted, the Longhorns will face one more quality team in UTSA for their final midweek game in three days, but in a regional atmosphere, playing games for an entire weekend, the Bulldogs are it.
Texas closes out the season with an up-and-down Tennessee team and the worst squad in the conference, Missouri, providing opportunities for the Longhorns to tune up before postseason play commences.
Although there is not much worry inside the Texas locker room for the rubber match against Mississippi State, as the Longhorns have yet to drop just one Sunday game this season.
“We’re pretty confident,” Temo Beccera said after the Saturday loss. “This is the SEC, every series will be interesting and fun to play in, so we’ll get back at it tomorrow.”
Sign up to our free newsletter and follow us on Facebook, X and Instagram for the latest news.
Add us as a preferred source on GoogleFollow
Odds of winning the Powerball and Mega Millions are NOT in your favor
Odds of hitting the jackpot in Mega Millions or Powerball are around 1-in-292 million. Here are things that you’re more likely to land than big bucks.
The Mississippi Lottery offers several draw games for those aiming to win big.
Here’s a look at May 2, 2026, results for each game:
Winning Mississippi Match 5 numbers from May 2 drawing
03-05-10-14-29
Check Mississippi Match 5 payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Cash 3 numbers from May 2 drawing
Midday: 0-6-3, FB: 1
Evening: 3-0-6, FB: 2
Check Cash 3 payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Cash 4 numbers from May 2 drawing
Midday: 2-0-0-1, FB: 1
Evening: 9-4-5-3, FB: 2
Check Cash 4 payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Cash Pop numbers from May 2 drawing
Midday: 02
Evening: 04
Check Cash Pop payouts and previous drawings here.
Feeling lucky? Explore the latest lottery news & results
Story continues below gallery.
Are you a winner? Here’s how to claim your lottery prize
Winnings of $599 or less can be claimed at any authorized Mississippi Lottery retailer.
Prizes between $600 and $99,999, may be claimed at the Mississippi Lottery Headquarters or by mail. Mississippi Lottery Winner Claim form, proper identification (ID) and the original ticket must be provided for all claims of $600 or more. If mailing, send required documentation to:
Mississippi Lottery Corporation
P.O. Box 321462
Flowood, MS
39232
If your prize is $100,000 or more, the claim must be made in person at the Mississippi Lottery headquarters. Please bring identification, such as a government-issued photo ID and a Social Security card to verify your identity. Winners of large prizes may also have the option of setting up electronic funds transfer (EFT) for direct deposits into a bank account.
Mississippi Lottery Headquarters
1080 River Oaks Drive, Bldg. B-100
Flowood, MS
39232
Mississippi Lottery prizes must be claimed within 180 days of the drawing date. For detailed instructions and necessary forms, please visit the Mississippi Lottery claim page.
When are the Mississippi Lottery drawings held?
- Cash 3: Daily at 2:30 p.m. (Midday) and 9:30 p.m. (Evening).
- Cash 4: Daily at 2:30 p.m. (Midday) and 9:30 p.m. (Evening).
- Match 5: Daily at 9:30 p.m. CT.
- Cash Pop: Daily at 2:30 p.m. (Midday) and 9:30 p.m. (Evening).
This results page was generated automatically using information from TinBu and a template written and reviewed by a Mississippi editor. You can send feedback using this form.
-
New York1 hour agoHow a Hairdresser and Painter Lives on $70,000 a Year in Chelsea
-
Detroit, MI2 hours agoGas prices up 84 cents in Michigan from last week, up 76 cents in metro Detroit
-
San Francisco, CA2 hours agoSan Francisco woman gets photographer’s old number. It changes both their lives
-
Dallas, TX2 hours agoPolice say a crash led to an attempted carjacking and a fatal shooting in Garland
-
Miami, FL2 hours agoWinners and losers of F1 Miami grand prix
-
Boston, MA2 hours ago‘Distressing’ Number of Boston’s Gen Z Residents Eye the Exit as Housing Costs Soar
-
Denver, CO2 hours agoLegacy score twice in waning minutes, beat fellow expansion side Denver for first win in franchise history
-
Seattle, WA2 hours agoWhat Emmanuel Henderson Jr. says he’s bringing to Seattle Seahawks