While Mississippi still has struggles on the education front, recent statistics show teachers and students are making gains by using what they have.

All eyes are on Mississippi as its statewide graduation rate is rising and its dropout rate is at an all-time low.

The Mississippi Department of Education recently released rates for the 2015-2016 school year.

The graduation rate, except for one small dip in 2013-2014 has been on a significant rise. In 2011-2012 the statewide graduation rate was 73.7 percent. That has climbed to 80.8 this school year.

The dropout rate also did the same, but in the opposite direction and again with an exception in the 2013-2014 school year. Back in 2011-2012, the dropout rate was 16.7 percent and now it has declined to 11.8 percent.

At our local school districts, Lafayette County’s graduation rate was 85.6 percent and Oxford’s was 88.6. The dropout rate for Lafayette County was 7 percent and Oxford’s was 7.6 percent. 

We are blessed to be toward the top of the pack in education. It’s the commitment of the community, educators and also students to stay in the game and make a path for a positive future.