U.S. News & World Report recently released its 2025 rankings of the top public middle schools in each state.
The study did not rank middle schools nationally, but by state and by individual school district.
Of the top 10, only one Jackson-area middle school was selected. The Hattiesburg area also had only one middle school in the top 10 statewide.
top 10
Below are the top 10 middle schools in Mississippi for 2025, according to U.S. News and World Report.
North Woolmarket Elementary and Middle School, Harrison County School District, Biloxi West Union Attendance Center, Union County School District, Myrtle Hernando Middle School, DeSoto County School District, Hernando Long Beach Middle School, Long Beach School District, Long Beach Lewisburg Intermediate, DeSoto County School District; Olive Branch East Union Attendance Center, Union County School District, Blue Springs Petal Middle School, Petal School District, Petal Dixie Attendance Center, Hattiesburg, Forest County School District, Madison, Madison County School District, Neshoba Central Middle School, Philadelphia, Neshoba County School District
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methodology
U.S. News obtained data from 601 public middle schools in Mississippi for the 2025 rankings.
Much of the ranking process focused on state tests. The study looked at how many students in each middle school scored proficient or above proficient on state assessments in math, reading, and language arts. These test scores were stacked against the school’s socio-economic demographics to ensure each school had a level playing field.
Schools were given an overall score from 0 to 100. The numerical score represents the school’s percentile ranking. In other words, a school with a score of 55 performed in the 55th percentile. That means 45% of the schools ranked in the state outperformed their school, and 55% did not perform as well.
jackson public school
U.S. News and World Report also ranks middle schools by individual school districts.
Below are Jackson Public School District’s top 10 public middle schools and statewide rankings for 2025 by U.S. News and World Report.
Bailey Middle School APAC School, 13th overall in the state Northwest Middle School, 16th in the state Peoples Middle School, 161st in the state Kirksey Middle School, 202-269 in the state Chastain Middle School, 202-269 in the state Brinkley Middle School, 202- in the state overall #269 Whitten Middle School, 202-269 statewide Blackburn Middle School, 202-269 statewide Cardozo Middle School, Statewide 202-269 Powell Middle School, Statewide 202-269
U.S. News and World Report hides individual rankings for schools below 202nd place.
Madison County Schools
U.S. News & World Report ranked four public middle schools in the Madison County School District. All four schools ranked within the top 100 middle schools statewide.
Below are the 4 public middle schools ranked within the Madison County School District and their statewide rankings in 2025, according to U.S. News and World Report and statewide rankings.
Madison Middle School, 9th overall in the state Germantown Middle School, 37th overall in the state Shirley D. Simmons Middle School, 79th overall in the state Old Town Middle School, 88th overall in the state
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Rankin County School District
Rankin County School District had eight public middle schools ranked in 2025. Statewide, 9 out of 10 of these schools finished in the top 100.
Below are the rankings of the eight public middle schools in the Rankin County School District and the statewide rankings for 2025 by U.S. News and World Report.
Northwest Rankin Middle School, 24th overall in the state Brandon Middle School, 44th in the state McLoughlin Attendance Center, 48th in the state Puckett Attendance Center, 72nd in the state Pelahatchie Attendance Center, 82nd in the state Florence Middle School, 90th in the state Pisgah High School, 99 Richland High School, No. 102 Statewide
forest county
The Forest County School District had four public middle schools in the 2025 rankings. Statewide, three of the four schools ranked in the top 100.
Below are the 2025 rankings of the four public middle schools in the Forest County School District and the statewide rankings by U.S. News and World Report.
Dixie Attendance Center, 8th overall in the state South Forest Attendance Center, 21st overall in the state North Forest High School, 66th overall in the state Earl Travillion Attendance Center, 202-269
U.S. News and World Report hides individual rankings for schools below 202nd place.
lamar county school district
The Lamar County School District has four public middle schools ranked in 2025. Statewide, two of the four schools are ranked within the top 100.
Below are the 2025 rankings of the four public middle schools in the Forest County School District and the statewide rankings by U.S. News and World Report.
Oak Grove Middle School, 35th overall in the state Sumrall Middle School, 64th overall in the state Purvis Middle School, 131st overall in the state Lumberton High School, 202-269th overall in the state
U.S. News and World Report hides individual rankings for schools below 202nd place.
Have a news tip? Contact Mary Boyte at mboyte@jackson.gannett.com
