Lance Evans, Mississippi Superintendent of Education | Mississippi Department of Education
The Mississippi Department of Education (MDE) has named seven elementary schools as Mississippi Emerging Science of Reading (SOR) Schools and one school as a Mississippi Science of Reading School for the 2025-26 academic year.
The schools recognized as 2025-26 Mississippi Emerging Science of Reading Schools are Lewisburg Primary, Lake Cormorant Elementary, Luther Branson Elementary, McLaurin Elementary, Pelahatchie Elementary, North Bay Elementary, and Waveland Elementary. Senatobia Elementary in the Senatobia Municipal School District received the designation of Mississippi Science of Reading School.
According to MDE, “The Mississippi Emerging SOR designation is for schools that have trained teachers in the science of reading, exemplified a change of instructional practices, and embodied a school culture that focuses on building skillful, strong readers in kindergarten through third grade. The Mississippi SOR designation may be awarded to a school that has been an Emerging SOR school for two consecutive years.”
All K-5 schools in Mississippi are invited each spring to apply for science of reading recognition. Since the program began in the 2021-22 school year, 26 schools have received this designation. Schools must reapply each year to maintain their status.
To mark these achievements, MDE’s Literacy Leadership Team will visit each recognized school starting Tuesday, August 12.
The celebration schedule is as follows:
- Tuesday, Aug. 12 – 9 a.m.: Lewisburg Primary (DeSoto County School District)
- Tuesday, Aug. 12 – 1 p.m.: Lake Cormorant Elementary (DeSoto County School District)
- Wednesday, Aug. 13 – 1 p.m.: Luther Branson Elementary (Madison County School District)
- Thursday, Aug. 14 – 9 a.m.: McLaurin Elementary (Rankin County School District)
- Thursday, Aug. 14 – 1 p.m.: Pelahatchie Elementary (Rankin County School District)
- Tuesday, Aug. 19 – Noon: North Bay Elementary (Bay-Waveland School District)
- Tuesday, Aug. 19 – 1 p.m.: Waveland Elementary (Bay-Waveland School District)