Wait, Texas has a lower education level than Mississippi?

Mississippi has long been known as a state that ranks near the bottom in U.S. education.

However, according to the 2024 National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), Mississippi ranked 9th in the nation for 4th grade reading scores, while Texas was 37th.

That's a staggering 28 spots difference.

Even more surprising is that Mississippi was ranked 49th in this area in 2013.

In just 11 years, it has climbed from 49th to 9th.

In contrast, Texas dropped from 33rd in 2022 to 37th in 2024.

This raises the question of what Texas has been doing while Mississippi has improved.

Texas is one of the largest economies in the U.S.

Austin is home to many tech companies, Dallas has numerous corporate headquarters, and Houston is a hub for the energy industry.

Yet, elementary students' reading scores are among the lowest in the nation.

While adults discuss AI and the semiconductor industry, children are struggling with basic reading and comprehension skills.

Of course, Texas is not worse than Mississippi in every subject.

In 4th grade math, Texas ranks 8th nationally, while Mississippi is 16th.

However, the fact that Texas is falling so far behind in reading education is shocking enough.

It's even more interesting to examine how Mississippi has changed.

Mississippi has strengthened phonics-based education, systematic teaching of the relationship between sounds and letters, teacher training, and early support for struggling students.

This is often referred to as the 'Mississippi Miracle.'

Ultimately, what children need is not flashy educational slogans but effective teaching that enables them to read and understand.

In San Antonio alone, there are significant differences in school quality from neighborhood to neighborhood.

In Stone Oak, housing prices are high and property taxes are substantial, yet if parents have to worry about basic educational outcomes, it can be frustrating.

As shown in the data above, Texas school districts are also lagging behind.

In the U.S., it is often said that educating children is the responsibility of parents.

While parental involvement is important, if parents have to solve all reading education issues while paying taxes and sending their kids to public schools, what is the purpose of public education?

The time has come when we can no longer easily mock Mississippi as an educational backwater.

Perhaps it is now Texas's turn to learn from Mississippi.

Texas boasts that everything is bigger. The land is big, the trucks are big, and the steaks are big.

However, when it comes to the fundamental skills of public education, it seems that substance is more important than size.