By Nic Lott, Board Chair, Mississippi Charter Schools Association

There’s something special happening in Mississippi classrooms.

For more than a decade, our state has been steadily climbing the national ranks in student achievement — a transformation so significant it’s been called the Mississippi Miracle. The 2024 NAEP results confirmed what many of us already knew: Mississippi’s students, especially our youngest readers and math scholars, are leading the way.

Fourth-grade students in Mississippi now rank #1 in the nation for gains in reading and math over time. Our Black and Hispanic students are outperforming their peers nationally, and our economically disadvantaged students rank first in reading. These aren’t just numbers — they’re evidence of what’s possible when families, educators, and communities come together in pursuit of a better future.

Mississippi’s public charter schools are proud to be part of this progress.

According to the Mississippi Charter School Authorizing Board’s 2024 Legislative Report, students in Mississippi’s charter middle schools outperformed students in traditional public schools in math and ELA in 2023-24.

​Across the state, schools like Smilow Prep, Reimagine Prep, and LeFlore Legacy Academy are earning full renewals by the Mississippi Charter School Authorizing Board based on their results. Schools that struggled with post-COVID learning have made remarkable advancements. LeFlore Legacy Academy and Smilow Collegiate, for example, have moved up two entire letter grades and are now on solid academic footing — a testament to strong leadership and a relentless belief in students.

Charter schools in Mississippi are doing what they were designed to do: create new opportunities for students who have historically been underserved. They break down barriers, invite innovation, and give families access to learning environments where teachers can be creative and students can thrive.

When I visit schools or speak with our charter leaders, I see it first-hand — charter schools are opening doors for students of color and low-income families in ways that feel powerful, and long overdue. These schools aren’t just academic institutions; they’re strengthening communities and creating opportunities for students who need them the most.

With ten charter schools operating and two more recently approved in Mississippi, the momentum is real. But we can’t stop here. If we want to sustain and expand the gains we’re seeing across the state, we need to invest in what’s working—and that includes public charter schools.

To our policymakers: charter schools are critical partners in the important work of building strong futures, one public school at a time. They’re helping Mississippi families access high-quality public options that might not otherwise exist. And to Mississippi families watching our state’s education success story unfold: charter schools are here for you. They are part of the solution.

Mississippi is more than a state — it’s a community, a place where we understand how deeply we are connected, and where we lift each other up. There is no better example of this than our shared work to improve opportunity and outcomes for our students. Our charter schools are both honored and humbled to be part of the great things happening in Mississippi, and they’re ready to do their part to prove what’s possible for every child. 

Let’s keep the momentum going.