Best Public Schools in Aberdeen, MS

Aberdeen, Mississippi is served by the Aberdeen School District, which operates three public schools — Aberdeen Elementary (grades K-4), Belle-Shivers Middle School (grades 5-8), and Aberdeen High School (grades 9-12) — serving 924 students in a high-poverty area where nearly every student qualifies for free or reduced lunch. The district ranks 99th out of 134 Mississippi districts, and since it contains only these three schools, district-level results directly reflect each building's performance.

The clearest positive standout is Aberdeen Elementary, which has climbed from the 13th to the 36th percentile in state rankings over three years and posted strong ELA gains (3rd grade from 27.8% to 40.3%; 4th grade from 33.3% to 42.6%). It also has the lowest chronic absenteeism rate (16.4%) despite having the largest class sizes. Belle-Shivers Middle School is the middle ground: it beat state averages in 6th and 7th grade math in 2024-2025 and improved science scores, but ELA proficiency remains well below state averages. Aberdeen High School is the most concerning: it ranks in the 23rd percentile, has the highest chronic absenteeism (28.5%), and only about 29% of students are proficient in English II. That said, the graduation rate is a respectable 87.7%, and Biology proficiency jumped from 32.7% to 51.1%.

English Language Arts is the district's widest weakness, with proficiency running 8 to 20 points below state averages at every level. Math is more mixed, and middle school results show sharp cohort variability — 7th grade math dropped from 62.7% to 37.2% year-over-year. Chronic absenteeism tracks performance closely: the improving elementary school has the lowest rate, while the struggling high school has the highest. The district's 1-star rating masks real variation: an elementary school on a strong upward path, a middle school with subject-specific strengths, and a high school with low proficiency but a decent graduation rate. For parents, Aberdeen Elementary offers the most encouraging trajectory, Belle-Shivers Middle School shows that state-average math is within reach, and Aberdeen High School remains the highest-risk environment.