West Lincoln Attendance Center had just one student fail the state’s third-grade reading gate test. 

The reading gate was established by legislators in 2014. Proponents believe the gate will help improve literacy rates and therefore overall education efforts.

The state’s pass rate was 85 percent, with 5,612 students failing. Those students will have two more chances to take the test, once this week and a second this summer. Intensive intervention programs are being implemented at schools across the state to give extra preparation for the follow-up tests.

Some students will also qualify for exemptions that will allow them to promote to fourth grade even if they failed the test.

West Lincoln Principal Jason Case said he expects the school’s one failing student to be promoted to the fourth grade due to an exemption.

“This is an accomplishment that we are very proud of, and we expect the same results each year,” he said.

He said their success rate came from the help of all teachers, in the third grade and below.

“We do not place all the responsibility on our third-grade teachers,” he said. “They just carry through with the progress that has been accomplished in kindergarten through second. And I will add, our third-grade teachers answered the call and finished well. I am very proud of them.”

Case said every student’s progress at West Lincoln begins to be monitored in kindergarten. Progress monitoring continues to be utilized each year until graduation. Case said it is considered a team approach by all stakeholders, including teachers, assistants, parents and other staff members.

As for the test itself, Case said he believes it sends a true picture to parents on student literacy.

“Again, success doesn’t happen just hoping it happens,” he said. “Success happens when all stakeholders buy in to perfect practice to accomplish a common goal.”

Other schools in the Lincoln County School District came out above the state average. Bogue Chitto had a 97 percent pass rate, Loyd Star had a 93 percent pass rate and Enterprise had an 89 percent pass rate.

“I want to congratulate the principals, teachers and students of Bogue Chitto, Enterprise and Loyd Star for their outstanding success on the third grade test also,” he said, “and a special thank you to Mrs. Richelle Ratcliff, our district curriculum coordinator, for her hard work and dedication in helping each school achieve this.”

Brookhaven School District had a 75 percent pass rate.