NATCHEZ — While statewide a larger share of Mississippi third graders passed the state’s reading test on the first try this year, fewer Natchez-Adams students passed.

The Natchez-Adams School District had 75.5 percent of third graders pass the reading summative assessment test, down a little more than five points from last year’s 80.65 percent.

The Mississippi Department of Education says 87 percent of 39,000 public school third graders passed the computerized test.

About 85 percent of Mississippi third-graders passed on the initial attempt in 2015, the first year students were required to pass. Statewide, average test scores increased slightly in 2016.

Passing rates dropped in two of the three public elementary schools in the local district.

Frazier Elementary fell from 86.17 percent in 2015 to 78.3 percent this year, and McLaurin dropped from 81.13 percent to 74.41 percent.

Slightly more students passed at Susie B. West, with the school’s passing rate increasing from 73.42 percent to 73.9 percent.

Statewide, approximately 5,000 students still need to pass to reach fourth grade.

Students will have two more chances, one before school ends and one during the summer. Some students can also advance with exemptions.

Students must reach a basic reading skill level, not national standards of proficiency.

Last month, Gov. Phil Bryant signed a law requiring students to score at a higher level to reach fourth grade starting in 2019.

NASD Board of Trustees President Amos James said the district would need to figure out what went wrong with reading tests this year.

“(The passing rates) should continue to go up, so we have to find out why they didn’t go up,” he said.

NASD Superintendent Fred Butcher did not return requests for comment.