Five Coast schools recognized for literacy programs

One of five local schools received some huge recognition this week.

The Mississippi Office of Elementary Education and Reading’s Literacy Division recognized Pass Road Elementary School as an emerging Mississippi Science of Reading school.

Four other schools on the Coast — Beach Elementary, Jackson Elementary and Martin Bluff Elementary in the Pascagoula-Gautier District and Waveland Elementary in the Bay-Waveland District, also will be recognized this month.

School leaders with Pass Road were presented a banner by the Department of Literacy to commemorate the big achievement.

Pass Road Elementary had the highest amount of scaled points in the school district, which increased by 250 points.

Mississippi State Literacy Director Kristen Winn is thrilled that they get to recognize schools for the third year in a row.

“It’s so exciting because reading is so important,” she said. “It’s an economic issue as well as an educational issue, and to see kids excited in us being able to celebrate the successes of schools really growing strong readers, which is our campaign, is really exciting.”

There are 11 elementary schools in the state being recognized — five along the Gulf Coast.