Summary:
The city of Canton, Mississippi is home to three middle schools: Nichols Middle School, Huey L. Porter Middle School, and Shirley D. Simmons Middle School. These schools serve students in grades 6-8 and are part of the Canton Public School District and the Madison County School District.
Among the three middle schools, Shirley D. Simmons Middle School stands out as the top performer. The school has consistently ranked higher in the state, with a ranking between 82nd and 118th out of 243-266 middle schools in Mississippi over the past three school years. Additionally, Shirley D. Simmons Middle School significantly outperforms the other two schools and the state averages in most subject areas and grade levels, with 75.7% of 8th graders proficient or better in MAAP Science in 2024-2025, compared to the state average of 54.7%. This success can be attributed to the school's lower student-teacher ratio of 7.4, compared to 14.8 and 17 for the other two schools, as well as the school's affiliation with the higher-performing Madison County School District.
In contrast, Nichols Middle School and Huey L. Porter Middle School, both part of the Canton Public School District, have generally lower proficiency rates compared to the district and state averages. These schools also have 100% of their students receiving free or reduced-price lunch, indicating a high level of economic disadvantage. The chronic absenteeism rates across all three schools are also high, around 23.9%, suggesting a need for targeted interventions to address attendance and engagement issues.
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