From rock bottom to reform: How Mississippi turned its education crisis into a national comeback story

Once ranked last in education, Mississippi has defied expectations to become one of America’s fastest-improving states, now standing 16th nationwide. Through a decade of evidence-based literacy reform, renewed focus on phonics, and strong teacher training, the state transformed its classrooms. The so-called “Mississippi Miracle” reflects not luck but deliberate policy, persistence, and collective belief in every child’s potential.

Education