More than one out of four third graders failed Mississippi’s literacy promotion test, after tougher grading standards were implemented this year.

The results released by the state Department of Education on Wednesday mean there’s a possibility that thousands of third-graders could be held back for the 2020 school year.

Just shy of 9,000 students flunked the reading exam statewide.

Education officials say students still have two more opportunities to pass the assessment. A retest was administered last week; those exams are in the process of being scored.

More:Thousands fail 3rd grade reading tests: See the best, worst districts

Calling the tougher a standard "new beginning," State Superintendent of Education Carey Wright acknowledged the new hurdle students face.

“Students need strong reading skills in order to learn other school subjects, such as science, social studies, writing and even math," Wright said in a statement. "I am proud of all of the students, teachers, school leaders and parents who have worked hard to help students become competent readers by the end of 3rd grade.”

With two out of three third-graders in the city's public school system failing the reading assessment, Yazoo City Schools have the heaviest lift. State education officials announced in April their plans to place the struggling district under state control using Mississippi's new Achievement School District model.

Jackson and surrounding suburb districts averaged a passing score of 72 percent. That's a dip of anywhere from 5 percent to 25 percent when compared to last year's round of final scores when students passed a lower bar. It's also an indicator that districts could see an uptick in their overall pass rates in subsequent retests.

The high-stakes derive from a 2013 law known as the "third-grade reading gate," which requires the third-graders to obtain a certain reading score to advance to fourth grade.

Supporters for the law envision the policy as an effective lever to curb social promotion.

The practice of allowing elementary students to advance without meeting certain standards has come under scrutiny amid findings that children who do not read at or above by grade level by fourth grade are at more risk of dropping out.

In his final state-of-the-state address, Gov. Phil Bryant predicted that time would mark the law as "the single most successful reform to public education in Mississippi history."

In a statement Bryant said he was "glad" that more than 26,000, or three in four third-graders, cleared the tougher bar on the first round.

"We should be proud of the children who passed, but also recognize that we have some more work to do," Bryant said in the statement. "Making sure children can read before being socially promoted is critical. I will continue to make sure our students are put in a position to succeed and that means setting high expectations. Our teachers are capable of that, and our students deserve it."

But prior to this year's change, third-graders were not required to approach proficiency in order to pass.

Test takers are scored on a five-tiered grading scale. A one or minimal score is the lowest level. A five or advanced score is the highest. In the past, third-graders had to make a basic or level two score in order to pass. Education officials raised the bar to a three for this year.

The policy allows for good-cause exemptions or promotions for some students, including children receiving special education services or in the process of learning English who meet certain criteria.

Contact Bracey Harris at 601-961-7248 or bharris2@gannett.com. Follow her on Twitter.

Metro pass rates

Canton Public Schools 72%

Clinton Public Schools 88%

Hinds County School District 68%

Jackson Public Schools 64%

Pearl Public Schools 88%

Rankin County School District 84%

Madison County Schools 92 %

Some of these averages were rounded.