Mississippi outperforms most states in post-pandemic education recovery, report finds
A new report indicates Mississippi is among the top performers in student recovery since the COVID-19 pandemic, outpacing most states in math and reading growth. The Education Scorecard, released Wednesday, ranks Mississippi seventh in both subjects among 38 states for the period from 2022 to 2025, based on analysis of standardized test scores.
Researchers from Harvard, Stanford, and Dartmouth analyzed data from more than 5,000 school districts. They found that nationwide, students remain nearly half a grade behind pre-pandemic reading levels, with only five states and Washington, D.C., showing significant improvements in reading scores. Math scores have improved slightly across most states during the same period.
According to the report, reading scores had been declining for years before the pandemic, with eighth graders falling behind since 2013 and fourth graders since 2015, based on National Assessment of Educational Progress data. Harvard professor Thomas Kane, a co-creator of the Scorecard, said the pandemic was the “mudslide” that accelerated existing achievement erosion.
Mississippi’s average reading score increased by just 0.03 grade levels from 2022 to 2025, with students performing 0.22 grade equivalents below 2019 levels. In math, students improved by 0.4 grade levels but remain 0.31 below pre-pandemic achievement. Most states saw improvements in math scores during this period.
The report noted that states adopting phonics-based reading instruction, such as Tennessee, Mississippi, Alabama, Louisiana, and Kentucky, experienced growth in both subjects. Mississippi has long emphasized phonics instruction, passing laws in 2013 requiring it for elementary students and expanding reading initiatives. The state also launched a math act modeled after its reading program.
However, the report cautioned that implementing the “science of reading” alone does not guarantee success. Some states, including Florida, Arizona, and Nebraska, adopted parts of the approach but still saw test scores decline. Chronic absenteeism remains a concern, especially in Mississippi, where it hovers around 28%, well above pre-pandemic levels.
The report also highlighted the impact of federal pandemic relief funds, which totaled about $2.52 billion for Mississippi, or roughly $5,700 per student. Recovery has been uneven across income levels, with higher gains seen in both high- and low-income districts. The authors recommend that Mississippi focus on funding and supporting middle- and high-poverty districts and addressing absenteeism. Starkville Oktibbeha Consolidated School District, which outperforms its peers, exemplifies successful efforts, according to Superintendent Tony McGee.
He emphasized that sustained progress results from strong instruction, leadership, and targeted support, ensuring every student has the opportunity to succeed.
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