West Harrison rated top high school in state test scores

September 28, 2023

WXXV Staff,

West Harrison High School has again been ranked No. 1 in the state as a result of scores on state tests taken last school year.

It is the second year in a row West Harrison is rated No. 1. Ocean Springs is No. 2 and Long Beach is No. 3.

Poplarville is No. 5 and Hancock High is No. 10, giving South Mississippi five of the top 10 high schools in the state.

Here are the high schools in South Mississippi who were given A ratings and their state rank:

West Harrison (1)
Ocean Springs (2)
Long Beach (3)
Poplarville (5)
Hancock (10)
Bay High (13)
D’Iberville (17)
St. Martin (18)
Vancleave (23)
Gulfport (33)
George County (36)
Gautier (38)
Pearl River Central (39)
Pass Christian (41)
Harrison Central (51)
Biloxi (52)
Moss Point (54)
Pascagoula (68)
East Central (71)
Stone (75)

Overall, of the 16 districts in South Mississippi, 14 of them earned As from the state. The other two scored Bs. Ocean Springs School District was the top district in the state, followed by Long Beach. Biloxi also finished in the Top 10 with Bay-Waveland at No. 11.

The districts that earned As and their state rankings are:

Ocean Springs (1)
Long Beach (2)
Biloxi (10)
Bay-Waveland (11)
Pass Christian (12)
Jackson County (15)
Hancock County (18)
Harrison County (20)
Stone County (24)
Gulfport (30)
Poplarville (38)
George County (42)
Pascagoula-Gautier (44)
Pearl River County (45)

Bayou View Elementary was the top-performing lower grade school in South Mississippi, earning an A and finishing 17th in the state. Lizana Elementary was 18th and Stone Elementary was 19th to round out the Top 20.

Statewide, the Department of Education said in a press release that the grades overall are an improvement over 2021-22, with about 81% of schools and 87% of districts rating a C or higher. In 2016, when the state Board of Education set a goal of all schools and districts be rated C or higher, the percentage already at that goal was 62%.

In South Mississippi, only three lower-grade schools scored below a C and only 10 were rated a C.

The state’s accountability system is based on:

Student proficiency and growth rates in ELA and Mathematics in grades 3-8
Growth of the lowest performing 25% of students in ELA and Mathematics
Science proficiency in grades 5 and 8
English Learner progress toward becoming proficient in the English language
Performance on the ACT and high school Algebra I, English II, Biology and U.S. History assessments
Student participation and performance in advanced coursework such as Advanced Placement and dual credit/dual enrollment courses
Four-year graduation rate