A total of nine Vicksburg Warren School District (VWSD) schools presented results from the second round of benchmark testing during Thursday’s board of education meeting as continued reporting as been broken up over the course of several months’ meetings.

Warren Central High School reported improvements across the board in all areas tested. Proficiency rates in reading improved over the first round of benchmark testing from 36.88% to 40.36% in the second round. Proficiency rates in math were up from the first benchmark testing rate of 55.78% to 60.55% in the second. Science/biology proficiency rates improved from 23.43% in the first round of benchmark testing to 25.28% in the second. U. S. history rates also improved from 9.05% to 14.85%.

Vicksburg High School also showed improvements in reading and U. S. history. Reading scores improved from 24.83% in the first round of benchmark testing to 30.38% in the second. U. S. history scores improved from 7.93% during the first benchmark tests to 17.38% following the second benchmark testing period. Math scores declined slightly from 48.82% in the first benchmark tests to 46.61%. Science/biology testing rates remained the same for both periods at 12.27%.

Vicksburg Junior High School saw a decline in reading proficiency. The first benchmark testing showed a 36.31% proficiency rate. The second round of testing showed a decline to 22.99%. Math scores were improved from 22.02% in the first benchmark to 24.52% in the second. Science/biology also saw an improvement from 20.49% in the first benchmark tests to 23.15%.

Warren Central Junior High saw a decline in each testing category. Reading proficiency rates, coming in at 40% at the first benchmark tests, were down to 34%. Math proficiency rates also declined, from 42% in the first benchmark tests to 37% in the second. Science/biology declined from 43% to 41%.

Vicksburg Intermediate School also saw a decline in reading proficiency rates, from 41.38% in the first benchmark testing period to 35.65% in the second. Math scores improved from 37.54% in the first benchmark tests to 40.34% in the second. Science/biology saw an improvement from 46.84% to 47.73%.

Warren Central Intermediate also saw mixed results. The first round of benchmark testing scored reading proficiency rates at 30.84%, with improved rates of 34% in the second. Math and science/biology, however, both saw declines. Math scores declined from 37.01% in the first benchmark tests to 34% in the second. Science/biology declined from 36.62% in the first testing period to 31% in the second.

Two elementary schools also presented benchmark testing results. Beechwood Elementary School reported proficiency increases in all categories. Reading proficiency increased from 52.90% at the first benchmark testing results to 61% in the second. Math proficiency improved from 46.2% in the first round of benchmark tests to 59% in the second. Science/biology saw a slight improvement of 57.6% in the first benchmark tests to 57.8% in the second.

South Park Elementary reported no change in reading proficiency rates, with a steady 31.58% for each round of testing. Math scores improved from the first benchmark testing of 32.16% to 37.1%, and science/biology decreased from 65.9% in the first benchmark testing to 40% in the second.

It was noted that chronic absenteeism (defined as two or more absences) was elevated in many schools, while teacher absenteeism is not, which would indicate students are not missing school due to contagious illness, VWSD officials said.

VWSD Board of Trustees President Bryan Pratt expressed concern over the trend.

“We’re putting a lot of effort into educating these children, and if they’re not there, they can’t learn,” Pratt said. “Parents need to step up. We’re doing everything from feeding them breakfast, to feeding them lunch; we’re doing tutoring programs, after-school programs . If your children aren’t going to show up, showing up for a job is half of what most employers want them to do. If they’re not showing up for school, how can we educate them? These schools that are being reported on today, that are struggling, and all the effort and hard work our teachers and administrators are doing is for naught, if the kid’s not there.”

Board member Alonzo Stevens inquired about school truancy officers. VWSD Superintendent Dr. Tori Holloway also mentioned the possible addition of another Youth Court judge to deal with students who won’t attend school.

Board attorney Briggs Hopson said there was a disconnect between the state department and the schools. He said the idea is to get truancy officers back under the school umbrella so that officers are answerable to the principals and superintendents.

“If you’re not going to show up, we can’t educate your child,” Pratt said. “If there were some type of penalty for the parent, it might make a difference.”