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High school absences in Mississippi cause chronic absenteeism rate to climb

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High school absences in Mississippi cause chronic absenteeism rate to climb


JACKSON, Miss. (WJTV) – The Mississippi Department of Education (MDE) released the 2024-25 Chronic Absenteeism Report.

According to the agency, Mississippi’s chronic absenteeism rate rose to 27.6%, representing 120,408 students who missed important instructional time in the last school year. They said this reflects an increase from the 2023-24 rate of 24.4%.

Chronic absenteeism is defined as missing 10% or more of the school year (equivalent to 18 days) for any reason, which includes excused and unexcused absences and suspensions. The 2024-25 report shows approximately one-third of all absences were excused. 

“When students are not in school, they are missing valuable instruction from their teachers and social interaction with their peers,” said Dr. Lance Evans, state superintendent of education. “Missing 18 or more days of school has serious consequences for academic achievement and long-term success. We need families, educators and community partners to join forces to combat chronic absenteeism.”

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According to the report, chronic absenteeism rates declined in elementary and middle school from 2023-24 to 2024-25 but increased from 30% to 39% in high school. This suggests excessive absences among high school students have driven the statewide rise in chronic absenteeism.

MDE’s efforts to help districts and schools address absenteeism include:

  • School attendance officers working statewide to help families eliminate barriers to school attendance 
  • MDE’s attendance awareness campaign, Every School Day Counts – Attend to Achieve, that highlights the benefits of regular school attendance and provides an Attendance Awareness Toolkit with resources and materials to promote attendance  
  • Partnership with the National Dropout Prevention Center to provide professional development for district and school teams 
  • September 2025 Statewide Chronic Absenteeism and Dropout Prevention Conference focused on innovative strategies to boost student engagement and best practices to effectively address chronic absenteeism



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Mississippi College Baseball Wins Series vs. West Florida for First Time

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Mississippi College Baseball Wins Series vs. West Florida for First Time


Mississippi College baseball has won the series against West Florida for the first time ever

The Choctaws have been playing UWF since 2015

MC won the first two games and put on a bit of a comeback in game 3

Next: GSC at Delta St., then Conference Tournament

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George County High School senior killed in Highway 26 crash, MHP says

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George County High School senior killed in Highway 26 crash, MHP says


GEORGE COUNTY, Miss. (WLOX) — A George County High School senior is dead after an SUV hit him while bicycling on Highway 26 Friday night.

Mississippi Highway Patrol (MHP) officials said at 8:15 p.m. the MHP responded to a fatal crash on Highway 26 in George County.

Those officials said a Ford SUV traveling west on Highway 26 collided with 18-year-old Tyree Bradley of McLain, Mississippi, who was bicycling.

Bradley was fatally injured and died at the scene, MHP officials said.

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The crash remains under investigation by the MHP.

See a spelling or grammar error in this story? Report it to our team HERE.

Copyright 2026 WLOX. All rights reserved.



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Mississippi State Drops Series Opener at Texas A&M Despite Late Chances

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Mississippi State Drops Series Opener at Texas A&M Despite Late Chances


Some losses feel like they drag on longer than the box score suggests, and Mississippi State’s 3-1 opener at Texas A&M fits that category.

 It wasn’t a blowout. It wasn’t a game where the Bulldogs looked outmatched.

It was just one of those nights where the early mistakes stuck around and the offense never quite found the swing that could shake them loose.

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The frustrating part is how quickly the hole formed. Two solo homers and a wild pitch in the first two innings put Mississippi State behind 3-0, and that was basically the ballgame.

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Against a top tier SEC team on the road, spotting three runs that early is a tough ask. The Bulldogs didn’t fold, but they also didn’t cash in when the door cracked open.

“I liked our fight. I think we’re really just working through some things offensively, and trying to stay together,” Mississippi State coach Samantha Ricketts said. “This team still believes, and we’re going to battle and fight every chance we get, and I think I saw a lot of that. I’m encouraged for what that means for us moving forward, but, you know, they’re a good hitting team, and we’ve got to be able to shut them down early. I don’t think Peja [Goold] had her best stuff, but she continued to battle out there and find ways to get outs.”

They had chances. Two runners stranded in the fifth. Two more in the sixth. Another in the seventh. Des Rivera finally got the Bulldogs on the board with an RBI single, but the big hit that usually shows up for this lineup never arrived.

It wasn’t a lack of traffic. It was a lack of finish.

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If there was a bright spot, it came from the bullpen. Delainey Everett gave Mississippi State exactly what it needed after the rocky start.

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“That was just a huge relief appearance by Delaney to keep us in it,” Ricketts said. “It’s really good to have her back and healthy these last few weeks because these are the moments where we really need her and rely on her. We know that she’s going to be a big part of the remainder of the season going forward as well.”

Three hitless innings, one baserunner, and a reminder that she’s quietly putting together a strong stretch.

There were individual positives too. Nadia Barbary keeps climbing the doubles list. Kiarra Sells keeps finding ways on base.

But the bigger picture is simple. Mississippi State is now 6-10 in the SEC, and the margin for error is shrinking. Nights like this one are the difference between climbing back into the race and staying stuck in the middle.

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They get another shot this morning with the schedule bumped up for weather. The formula isn’t complicated.

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Clean up the early innings, keep getting quality relief, and find one or two timely swings. The Bulldogs didn’t get them Friday. They’ll need them today.

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