As Dr. Jennifer Wilson takes over as superintendent of the Greenwood School District, one of the many challenges she faces is doing something about its low reading scores.
Even while the state average improved on the “third-grade gate” reading test over the past year, the Greenwood schools were stuck at a 26 percent failing rate. That was more than double the state average and even worse than the Leflore County School District, which is under conservatorship because of a history of low test scores.
The reading test, it should be noted, does not judge proficiency, just a basic level of reading skill. Even some of those who pass it may not actually be reading at grade level.
To have one in four failing is just not acceptable. Students who can’t read are doomed to academic failure. It’s as basic as that.
