#1 in Mississippi: SR1 College Preparatory & STEM Academy 3rd Graders Surpass State Reading Average in First Year of State Testing

Mississippi’s only STEM + College Prep charter school posts an 88% pass rate on the state’s 3rd grade ELA assessment

SR1 College Preparatory & STEM Academy (SR1 CPSA), Mississippi’s first and only STEM-focused college preparatory charter school, announced today that 88% of its 3rd grade scholars passed the Mississippi English Language Arts (ELA) reading assessment on their first attempt — outperforming the 2025 statewide average of 77.3% by more than 10 percentage points.

"These results reflect the dedication of our scholars, educators and families who have worked together to build a culture of excellence from day one.”

— La’Tesha Roby, Provost of SR1 CPSA

The results mark the school’s first year participating in Mississippi’s state accountability testing and position SR1 CPSA among the state’s top-performing schools in early literacy. The school also achieved 100% participation in the assessment.

The milestone comes during the school’s third year of operation and reflects the impact of SR1 CPSA’s rigorous academic model, which combines STEM education with a college preparatory curriculum beginning in kindergarten.

“These results reflect the dedication of our scholars, educators and families who have worked together to build a culture of excellence from day one,” said La’Tesha Roby, Provost of SR1 CPSA. “We are proud to see our students thriving academically and developing the confidence and critical thinking skills that will prepare them for lifelong success.”

Mississippi has earned national recognition in recent years for significant gains in early literacy, often referred to as the “Mississippi Miracle.” SR1 CPSA’s first tested grade-level results contribute to that momentum while demonstrating the impact of personalized instruction, intentional literacy support and STEM-integrated learning.

The Mississippi Department of Education released initial 3rd Grade MAAP ELA results on May 21, 2026. SR1 CPSA posted the highest pass rate of any charter school in Mississippi and outperformed the statewide average by 12.6 percentage points.

Mississippi Charter School Comparisons	3rd Grade Reading Pass Rate
SR1 College Preparatory STEM Academy, Canton, MS	88.2%
Ambition Preparatory Charter School	72.2%
Clarksdale Collegiate Charter School	70.0%
Instant Impact Global Prep Charter School	60.0%
Revive Prep Charter School	58.4%
Joel E. Smilow Collegiate Charter School	46.5%
State of Mississippi (all schools statewide)	75.6%

Source: Mississippi Department of Education, Office of Student Assessment, 3rd Grade Reading Initial Summative Assessment Results (released May 21, 2026).

SR1 CPSA Public Schools Home Districts Comparison	3rd Grade Reading Pass Rate
Yazoo County School District	72.90%
Canton Public School District* (Key Home District Comparison)	67.10%
Leake County School District	65.60%
Holmes Consolidated School District	53.60%
Jackson Public School District	53.40%
Yazoo City Municipal School District	45.10%
State of Mississippi (all schools statewide)	75.6%

*District location that SR1 CPSA is primarily compared to

The school’s instructional approach, known as “The Vanguard Way,” emphasizes daily reading, small-group instruction, vocabulary development and individualized learning plans tailored to each scholar’s needs.

Currently serving kindergarten through 3rd grade students, SR1 CPSA will expand to include 4th grade during the 2026–2027 school year.

For enrollment information or to schedule a school tour, visit www.sr1cpsa.org or email info@sr1cpsa.org.

About SR1 College Preparatory and STEM Academy (CPSA)

SR1 College Preparatory & STEM Academy is a tuition-free public charter school in Canton, Mississippi, currently serving scholars in kindergarten through 3rd grade and expanding to 4th grade in the 2026–2027 school year. As Mississippi’s only STEM + College Prep charter school, SR1 CPSA delivers rigorous academics, intentional character development, and a strong focus on science, technology, engineering, and math — preparing every scholar for college and a lifetime of purposeful achievement. SR1 CPSA is currently enrolling K–4th grade for the upcoming school year.