Twelve years ago, when the National Assessment of Educational Progress reading scores came out, the Magnolia State surprised no one by landing 49th out of 50 spots. Mississippi is a state with its share of major struggles. Located in a region of the country known as the Deep South, it stands out for some uncomfortable reasons. It ranks as one of the most poverty-stricken states in the nation. In terms of health system performance, Mississippi scored dead last on the Commonwealth Fund’s 2025 scorecard. And even if they’re not from the area, most Americans have at least a small understanding of the tenuous race relations that have plagued the state since its early-19th-century establishment.