Best Middle Schools in Mississippi (2025-26)

Ranked middle schools

149

Listed, not ranked

Every ranked middle school in Mississippi, ordered by SchoolGrade. A grade rewards actual test performance against the projection for each school's student context, so a B in a high-poverty school can outrank an A- elsewhere on impact. Click a column heading to sort, or filter by school, city or district.

Mississippi rankings: High Schools · Middle Schools · Elementary Schools

Mississippi middle schools ranked

Rank	Grade	School	City	District	Actual	Projected	Impact	Students
#1	A+	Madison Middle School	Madison	Madison Co School Dist	85%	70%	Exceeds Expectations	1,154
#2	A+	Ocean Springs Middle School	Ocean Springs	Ocean Springs School Dist	74%	63%	Meets Expectations	967
#3	A+	Germantown Middle School	Madison	Madison Co School Dist	73%	63%	Meets Expectations	1,008
#4	A+	Hernando Middle School	Hernando	Desoto Co School Dist	73%	64%	Meets Expectations	1,150
#5	A+	Lewisburg Middle	Hernando	Desoto Co School Dist	72%	69%	Doesn't Meet Expectations	1,031
#6	A+	Neshoba Central Middle School	Philadelphia	Neshoba County School District	72%	42%	Greatly Exceeds Expectations	702
#7	A+	Long Beach Middle School	Long Beach	Long Beach School Dist	71%	57%	Meets Expectations	453
#8	A+	Northwest Middle School	Jackson	Jackson Public School District	70%	33%	Greatly Exceeds Expectations	206
#9	A+	Brandon Middle School	Brandon	Rankin Co School Dist	69%	53%	Exceeds Expectations	1,193
#10	A+	Lovett Elem School	Clinton	Clinton Public School Dist	69%	55%	Meets Expectations	446
#11	A+	West Lauderdale Middle School	Collinsville	Lauderdale Co School Dist	69%	59%	Meets Expectations	525
#12	A	Sumrall Middle School	Sumrall	Lamar County School District	69%	61%	Doesn't Meet Expectations	464
#13	A	Vancleave Middle School	Vancleave	Jackson Co School Dist	68%	67%	Underperforms Expectations	537
#14	A	Bailey Middle Apac School	Jackson	Jackson Public School District	66%	37%	Greatly Exceeds Expectations	247
#15	A	East Central Middle School	Moss Point	Jackson Co School Dist	66%	57%	Meets Expectations	600
#16	A	Enterprise Middle School	Enterprise	Enterprise School Dist	66%	55%	Meets Expectations	265
#17	A	Mooreville Middle School	Mooreville	Lee County School District	66%	54%	Meets Expectations	372
#18	A	Pass Christian Middle	Pass Christian	Pass Christian Public School Dist	66%	52%	Meets Expectations	451
#19	A	Southeast Lauderdale Middle School	Meridian	Lauderdale Co School Dist	66%	34%	Greatly Exceeds Expectations	365
#20	A	Biloxi Junior High	Biloxi	Biloxi Public School Dist	65%	44%	Greatly Exceeds Expectations	881
#21	A	Desoto Central Middle School	Southaven	Desoto Co School Dist	65%	57%	Doesn't Meet Expectations	1,468
#22	A	Petal Middle School	Petal	Petal School Dist	65%	48%	Exceeds Expectations	745
#23	A	Stone Middle School	Wiggins	Stone Co School Dist	65%	47%	Exceeds Expectations	599
#24	A-	Florence Middle School	Florence	Rankin Co School Dist	65%	57%	Doesn't Meet Expectations	601
#25	A-	Northwest Rankin Middle School	Flowood	Rankin Co School Dist	65%	59%	Doesn't Meet Expectations	1,374
#26	A-	Union Middle School	Union	Union Public School Dist	64%	42%	Greatly Exceeds Expectations	278
#27	A-	West Harrison Middle School	Gulfport	Harrison Co School Dist	64%	43%	Greatly Exceeds Expectations	653
#28	A-	Bay Waveland Middle School	Bay St Louis	Bay St Louis Waveland School Dist	63%	40%	Greatly Exceeds Expectations	392
#29	A-	Center Hill Middle	Olive Branch	Desoto Co School Dist	63%	55%	Doesn't Meet Expectations	775
#30	A-	Oxford Intermediate School	Oxford	Oxford School District	63%	57%	Doesn't Meet Expectations	336
#31	A-	Oxford Middle School	Oxford	Oxford School District	63%	55%	Doesn't Meet Expectations	697
#32	A-	Rh Long Booneville Middle School	Booneville	Booneville School Dist	63%	39%	Greatly Exceeds Expectations	420
#33	A-	Bayou View Middle School	Gulfport	Gulfport School Dist	62%	39%	Greatly Exceeds Expectations	826
#34	A-	North Pontotoc Middle School	Ecru	Pontotoc Co School Dist	61%	42%	Greatly Exceeds Expectations	283
#35	B+	Alcorn Central Middle School	Glen	Alcorn School Dist	61%	49%	Meets Expectations	368
#36	B+	Caledonia Middle School	Caledonia	Lowndes Co School Dist	61%	54%	Doesn't Meet Expectations	498
#37	B+	Hancock Middle School	Kiln	Hancock Co School Dist	61%	45%	Exceeds Expectations	958
#38	B+	Middle School Of Poplarville	Poplarville	Poplarville Separate School Dist	60%	49%	Meets Expectations	448
#39	B+	New Albany Middle School	New Albany	New Albany Public Schools	60%	47%	Meets Expectations	482
#40	B+	St Martin Middle School	Ocean Springs	Jackson Co School Dist	60%	53%	Doesn't Meet Expectations	995
#41	B+	Amory Middle School	Amory	Amory School Dist	59%	36%	Greatly Exceeds Expectations	331
#42	B+	Seminary Middle School	Seminary	Covington County School District	59%	38%	Greatly Exceeds Expectations	383
#43	B+	Ripley Middle School	Ripley	South Tippah School Dist	58%	39%	Exceeds Expectations	477
#44	B+	Tupelo Middle School	Tupelo	Tupelo Public School Dist	58%	43%	Exceeds Expectations	1,080
#45	B+	Kossuth Middle School	Corinth	Alcorn School Dist	57%	51%	Doesn't Meet Expectations	381
#46	B	Grenada Middle School	Grenada	Grenada School Dist	57%	35%	Greatly Exceeds Expectations	834
#47	B	Oak Grove Middle School	Hattiesburg	Lamar County School District	57%	47%	Meets Expectations	1,294
#48	B	Pontotoc Junior High School	Pontotoc	Pontotoc City Schools	57%	38%	Exceeds Expectations	375
#49	B	Purvis Middle School	Purvis	Lamar County School District	57%	55%	Underperforms Expectations	383
#50	B	Milam Elementary School	Tupelo	Tupelo Public School Dist	56%	37%	Exceeds Expectations	557
#51	B	Lake Middle School	Lake	Scott Co School Dist	55%	39%	Exceeds Expectations	244
#52	B	Perry Central Middle School	New Augusta	Perry Co School Dist	55%	40%	Meets Expectations	216
#53	B	Rod Paige Middle School	Monticello	Lawrence Co School Dist	55%	31%	Greatly Exceeds Expectations	259
#54	B	South Pontotoc Middle School	Pontotoc	Pontotoc Co School Dist	55%	45%	Meets Expectations	374
#55	B	Guntown Middle School	Guntown	Lee County School District	54%	51%	Doesn't Meet Expectations	696
#56	B	Shirley D Simmons Middle School	Canton	Madison Co School Dist	54%	22%	Greatly Exceeds Expectations	146
#57	B-	Kosciusko Junior High School	Kosciusko	Kosciusko School District	53%	32%	Greatly Exceeds Expectations	500
#58	B-	Lafayette Middle School	Oxford	Lafayette Co School Dist	53%	49%	Doesn't Meet Expectations	447
#59	B-	Leakesville JR High School	Leakesville	Greene County School District	53%	42%	Meets Expectations	309
#60	B-	Hattiesburg Steam Academy	Hattiesburg	Hattiesburg Public School Dist	52%	26%	Greatly Exceeds Expectations	275
#61	B-	Iuka Middle School	Iuka	Tishomingo Co Sp Mun Sch Dist	50%	45%	Doesn't Meet Expectations	334
#62	B-	New Hope Middle School	Columbus	Lowndes Co School Dist	50%	45%	Doesn't Meet Expectations	613
#63	B-	Socsdmsu Partnership Middle School	Starkville	Starkville- Oktibbeha Cons Dist	50%	41%	Meets Expectations	753
#64	B-	Pearl Junior High School	Pearl	Pearl Public School District	49%	43%	Doesn't Meet Expectations	1,001
#65	C+	Huey L Porter Middle School	Canton	Canton Public School Dist	49%	20%	Greatly Exceeds Expectations	377
#66	C+	Drew Hunter Middle School	Drew	Sunflower Cty Cons School District	48%	20%	Greatly Exceeds Expectations	102
#67	C+	Gautier Middle School	Gautier	Pascagoula-Gautier School District	48%	37%	Meets Expectations	423
#68	C+	N R Burger Middle School	Hattiesburg	Hattiesburg Public School Dist	48%	19%	Greatly Exceeds Expectations	529
#69	C+	Northeast Lauderdale Middle School	Meridian	Lauderdale Co School Dist	48%	37%	Meets Expectations	565
#70	C+	Pearl River Central Junior High	Carriere	Pearl River Co School Dist	48%	51%	Underperforms Expectations	772
#71	C+	Batesville Junior High School	Batesville	South Panola School District	47%	29%	Exceeds Expectations	825
#72	C+	Houston Middle School	Houston		46%	35%	Meets Expectations	402
#73	C+	Jefferson Middle School	Columbia	Columbia School District	46%	37%	Meets Expectations	373
#74	C+	Corinth Middle School	Corinth	Corinth School Dist	45%	41%	Doesn't Meet Expectations	731
#75	C+	Ruleville Middle School	Ruleville	Sunflower Cty Cons School District	45%	12%	Greatly Exceeds Expectations	150
#76	C	Fifth Street School	West Point	West Point Consolidated School Dist	45%	25%	Greatly Exceeds Expectations	526
#77	C	Franklin County Middle School	Meadville	Franklin Co School Dist	45%	33%	Meets Expectations	204
#78	C	Senatobia Middle School	Senatobia	Senatobia Municipal School Dist	45%	40%	Doesn't Meet Expectations	392
#79	C	Byram Middle School	Terry	Hinds Co School Dist	43%	29%	Meets Expectations	772
#80	C	Olive Branch Middle	Olive Branch	Desoto Co School Dist	43%	44%	Underperforms Expectations	726
#81	C	Picayune Junior High School	Picayune	Picayune School District	43%	39%	Doesn't Meet Expectations	510
#82	C	Robert L Merritt Junior High School	Indianola	Sunflower Cty Cons School District	43%	10%	Greatly Exceeds Expectations	410
#83	C	Bay Springs Middle Sch	Bay Springs	West Jasper Consolidated Schools	42%	21%	Greatly Exceeds Expectations	197
#84	C	Gulfport Central Middle School	Gulfport	Gulfport School Dist	42%	19%	Greatly Exceeds Expectations	585
#85	C	Heidelberg Junior High School	Heidelberg	East Jasper Consolidated Sch Dist	42%	22%	Greatly Exceeds Expectations	115
#86	C	Lake Cormorant Middle	Lake Cormorant	Desoto Co School Dist	42%	46%	Underperforms Expectations	764
#87	C	Warren Central Junior High School	Vicksburg	Vicksburg Warren School Dist	42%	37%	Doesn't Meet Expectations	598
#88	C-	Simmons Jr High School	Hollandale		41%	16%	Greatly Exceeds Expectations	123
#89	C-	William M Colmer Middle School	Pascagoula	Pascagoula-Gautier School District	41%	29%	Meets Expectations	554
#90	C-	George County Middle School	Lucedale	George Co School Dist	40%	42%	Underperforms Expectations	655
#91	C-	Tunica Middle School	Tunica	Tunica County School District	40%	14%	Greatly Exceeds Expectations	357
#92	C-	N H Pilate Middle School	Newton	Newton Municipal School District	39%	19%	Exceeds Expectations	179
#93	C-	North Pike Junior High School	Summit	North Pike School Dist	39%	38%	Underperforms Expectations	353
#94	C-	Okolona Middle School	Okolona	Okolona Separate School Dist	39%	20%	Exceeds Expectations	124
#95	C-	Alexander Junior High School	Brookhaven	Brookhaven School Dist	38%	32%	Doesn't Meet Expectations	405
#96	C-	Horn Lake Middle School	Horn Lake	Desoto Co School Dist	37%	33%	Doesn't Meet Expectations	1,021
#97	C-	Southaven Middle School	Southaven	Desoto Co School Dist	37%	36%	Underperforms Expectations	1,456
#98	D+	Belle Shivers Middle School	Aberdeen	Aberdeen School Dist	36%	21%	Exceeds Expectations	352
#99	D+	Hazlehurst Middle School	Hazlehurst	Hazlehurst City School District	36%	19%	Exceeds Expectations	332
#100	D+	Leake Central Junior High	Carthage	Leake Co School Dist	36%	22%	Meets Expectations	415
#101	D+	Magnolia Middle School	Moss Point	Moss Point Separate School Dist	36%	24%	Meets Expectations	381
#102	D+	Natchez Middle School	Natchez		36%	20%	Exceeds Expectations	623
#103	D+	Port Gibson Middle School	Port Gibson	Claiborne Co School Dist	36%	11%	Greatly Exceeds Expectations	280
#104	D+	Amite County Middle School	Liberty		35%	17%	Exceeds Expectations	131
#105	D+	Eiland Middle School	Louisville	Louisville Municipal School Dist	35%	24%	Meets Expectations	391
#106	D+	Crystal Springs Middle School	Crystal Springs	Copiah Co School Dist	34%	22%	Meets Expectations	480
#107	D+	Shannon Middle School	Shannon	Lee County School District	34%	28%	Doesn't Meet Expectations	202
#108	D+	South Pike JR High	Magnolia	South Pike School Dist	34%	18%	Exceeds Expectations	255
#109	D+	Cleveland Central Middle School	Cleveland	Cleveland School Dist	33%	19%	Meets Expectations	433
#110	D+	Magee Middle School	Magee	Simpson Co School Dist	33%	29%	Doesn't Meet Expectations	325
#111	D	Byhalia Middle School 5 8	Byhalia	Marshall Co School Dist	32%	24%	Doesn't Meet Expectations	444
#112	D	Northwest Junior High School	Meridian	Meridian Public Schools	32%	18%	Meets Expectations	566
#113	D	South Delta Middle School	Anguilla	South Delta School District	32%	14%	Exceeds Expectations	158
#114	D	Charleston Middle School	Charleston	East Tallahatchie Consol Sch Dist	31%	15%	Exceeds Expectations	273
#115	D	Hawkins Middle School	Forest	Forest Municipal School Dist	31%	23%	Doesn't Meet Expectations	474
#116	D	Quitman County Middle School	Marks	Quitman Co School Dist	31%	11%	Greatly Exceeds Expectations	272
#117	D	Yazoo County Middle School	Yazoo City	Yazoo Co School Dist	31%	27%	Doesn't Meet Expectations	299
#118	D	Bettye Mae Jack Middle School	Morton	Scott Co School Dist	30%	26%	Doesn't Meet Expectations	535
#119	D	Quitman JR High School	Quitman	Quitman School Dist	30%	30%	Underperforms Expectations	329
#120	D	Leflore Legacy Academy (Charter)	Greenwood		29%	20%	Meets Expectations	241
#121	D	Williams Sullivan Middle School	Durant	Holmes County Consolidated Sd	29%	9%	Greatly Exceeds Expectations	249
#122	D-	Kirksey Middle School	Jackson	Jackson Public School District	29%	18%	Meets Expectations	247
#123	D-	Leland School Park	Leland	Leland School Dist	29%	16%	Meets Expectations	264
#124	D-	Nichols Middle School	Canton	Canton Public School Dist	29%	20%	Meets Expectations	396
#125	D-	Plantersville Middle School	Plantersville	Lee County School District	28%	21%	Doesn't Meet Expectations	274
#126	D-	Vicksburg Junior High School	Vicksburg	Vicksburg Warren School Dist	28%	19%	Meets Expectations	405
#127	D-	Laurel Middle School	Laurel	Laurel School District	27%	18%	Meets Expectations	555
#128	D-	S V Marshall Middle School	Lexington	Holmes County Consolidated Sd	27%	9%	Exceeds Expectations	350
#129	D-	Tl Weston Middle School	Greenville	Greenville Public Schools	27%	19%	Meets Expectations	428
#130	D-	Holly Springs Junior High School	Holly Springs	Holly Springs School Dist	26%	21%	Doesn't Meet Expectations	138
#131	D-	Magnolia Middle School	Meridian	Meridian Public Schools	26%	18%	Doesn't Meet Expectations	428
#132	D-	Columbus Middle School	Columbus	Columbus Municipal School Dist	24%	21%	Doesn't Meet Expectations	667
#133	D-	Kemper County Middle School	Dekalb	Kemper Co School Dist	24%	20%	Doesn't Meet Expectations	120
#134	D-	North Panola Middle School	Como	North Panola School District	24%	12%	Meets Expectations	281
#135	F	Armstrong Junior High School	Starkville	Starkville- Oktibbeha Cons Dist	53%	33%	Exceeds Expectations	750
#136	F	Denman Junior High School	Mccomb	Mccomb School District	24%	17%	Doesn't Meet Expectations	334
#137	F	Greenwood Middle School	Greenwood	Greenwood-Leflore Cons Sch District	22%	18%	Doesn't Meet Expectations	244
#138	F	Reimagine Prep (Charter)	Jackson	Reimagine Prep	22%	12%	Meets Expectations	514
#139	F	William Winans Middle School	Centreville	Wilkinson Co School Dist	19%	11%	Doesn't Meet Expectations	225
#140	F	B F Liddell Middle School	Macon	Noxubee County School District	17%	15%	Doesn't Meet Expectations	306
#141	F	Cardozo Middle School	Jackson	Jackson Public School District	17%	18%	Underperforms Expectations	625
#142	F	Coleman Middle School	Greenville	Greenville Public Schools	17%	12%	Doesn't Meet Expectations	373
#143	F	O M Mc Nair Middle School	Belzoni	Humphreys Co School Dist	17%	17%	Underperforms Expectations	413
#144	F	Bettie E Woolfolk Middle School	Yazoo City	Yazoo City Municipal School Dist	15%	13%	Doesn't Meet Expectations	493
#145	F	Powell Middle School	Jackson	Jackson Public School District	15%	18%	Underperforms Expectations	320
#146	F	Amanda Elzy Junior High School	Greenwood	Greenwood-Leflore Cons Sch District	14%	11%	Doesn't Meet Expectations	235
#147	F	Wa Higgins Middle School Academy	Clarksdale	Clarksdale Municipal School Dist	14%	13%	Underperforms Expectations	283
#148	F	Blackburn Middle School	Jackson	Jackson Public School District	13%	16%	Underperforms Expectations	614
#149	F	Peeples Middle School	Jackson	Jackson Public School District	10%	15%	Underperforms Expectations	298

How Mississippi's middle schools compare

A: 34B: 30C: 33D: 37F: 15

43% of the 149 ranked middle schools in Mississippi earn an A or B (34 A grades, 30 B, 33 C, 37 D, 15 F), against 46% of middle schools nationwide. 94 schools meet or beat the proficiency projected from their student context (63% here, 70% nationally), and 54 exceed it. On average 46% of tested students meet the state bar against a projected 33% (national averages: 45% actual, 38% projected).

The biggest overperformers, by actual proficiency above projection: Northwest Middle School (70% against 33%, A+), Ruleville Middle School (45% against 12%, C+), Robert L Merritt Junior High School (43% against 10%, C), Southeast Lauderdale Middle School (66% against 34%, A), Shirley D Simmons Middle School (54% against 22%, B).

Districts with the most schools in the top quarter (the top 38): Desoto Co School Dist (4), Rankin Co School Dist (3), Madison Co School Dist (2), Jackson Public School District (2).

Cities with the most ranked middle schools: Jackson (8, 2 at A or B), Meridian (4, 1 at A or B), Gulfport (3, 2 at A or B), Oxford (3, 3 at A or B), Hattiesburg (3, 2 at A or B).

The largest ranked middle schools: Desoto Central Middle School (1,468 students, A, #21), Southaven Middle School (1,456 students, C-, #97), Northwest Rankin Middle School (1,374 students, A-, #25).

Middle schools in Mississippi that are not ranked

12 graded middle schools are listed here rather than ranked, each for the reason given. Every one has its own page with its full SchoolGrade report.

Not yet graded (12)

Our source data has no school-level proficiency results for these schools, so they carry no SchoolGrade yet.

Brinkley Middle School, Jackson
Carver Middle School, Raymond
Carver Middle School, Collins
Chastain Middle School, Jackson
Choctaw Central Middle School, Choctaw
Clinton JR Hi School, Clinton
Jdc Middle School, Prentiss
Jefferson Co JR Hi, Fayette
Joel E Smilow Prep, Jackson
Mendenhall Junior High School, Mendenhall
Old Town Middle, Ridgeland
Whitten Middle School, Jackson

About this ranking

Scope: every public middle school in Mississippi.
Order: SchoolGrade, then actual proficiency, then name; schools with the same grade and score share a rank.
Ranked: regular public schools that NCES lists as open, not fully online, with at least 30 students. Others are listed with the reason.
Tags: Magnet and Charter from the NCES school directory; K-12 marks schools serving every grade that are ranked with the middle schools.
Grades are the 2025-26 SchoolGrade model. How SchoolGrade works

Questions about middle schools in Mississippi

What is the best middle school in Mississippi?

Madison Middle School in Madison ranks first among the 149 ranked middle schools in Mississippi with a SchoolGrade of A+, 85% of tested students meeting the state bar against a projected 70%.

How are middle schools in Mississippi ranked?

By SchoolGrade, the 2025-26 model that scores each school's actual test proficiency against the level projected for its student context, then by actual proficiency to break ties. Regular public schools that are open, not fully online and have at least 30 students are ranked; the rest are listed below the table with the reason.

How many middle schools does Mississippi have?

SchoolGrade grades 161 public middle schools in Mississippi; 149 are ranked here and 12 are listed as not ranked.