The percentage of students that scored basic and above on the MCT 2 was lower in all categories and grades compared to the state percentage, except in fourth-grade math, which was .7 percentage points higher than the state average.

Tenth-grade students showed the most significant drop in scores in the district.

On the biology test, 60.5 percent of students scored basic or above, which is down 20.8 percentage points from the 2013 scores.

Natchez High School students also scored lower on the algebra, biology and U.S. history tests compared to last year.

“I am not sure as to what was consistently done in grades three through eight in comparison to high school students regarding the improvements made,” Hill said. “Principals were keenly aware of the stories told from the common assessment data provided throughout the year.”

Hill said he believed the district is on its way to seeing significant improvements.

“I am excited about the direction in which the district is headed,” Hill said. “I believe the hard work displayed by students, teachers and school administrators will yield results that indicate NASD is improving.”

The Mississippi Department of Education will release accountability labels for each school and district ranking them A through F next month.

The MCT2 is given to students in grades three through eight in English language arts and mathematics.

Fifth- and eighth-grade students also took the Mississippi Science Test (MST).

Students are scored as minimal, basic, proficient or advanced on the MCT2 and MST.

High school 10th-grade students are assessed with the SATP on four content areas — Algebra I, Biology I, English II (both multiple choice and writing assessments) and U.S. history.