Summary:
There is just one middle school in Cleveland, Mississippi—Cleveland Central Middle School—which serves grades 7 and 8 and is part of the Cleveland School District, a high-poverty area where over 99% of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch.
Because this is the only middle school in the district, all district-level test scores for middle school are identical to the school's own scores. Cleveland Central Middle School has shown real progress over the past three years, moving from the 12th percentile of Mississippi middle schools in 2023–2024 to the 23rd percentile in 2025–2026, though it remains a 1-star school. The most encouraging news is in 7th grade math, where proficiency jumped from 33.4% to 52.8% in just one year—now only about 5 points below the state average. Science is also a relative strength, with 48.6% of 8th graders proficient, compared to 57.8% statewide. However, 8th grade math remains a serious concern, with just 22.1% of students proficient—a gap of more than 29 points below the state average. English Language Arts results are mixed: 7th grade improved to 26.8% proficient, but 8th grade dipped to 25.5%, leaving both grades well behind state averages.
Chronic absenteeism is an important issue at this school. At 26.8%, it is higher than both the district (22.7%) and the state (23.9%). Given the extremely high poverty rate and the school’s low starting point, the recent gains in math and science are meaningful signs that instructional efforts may be paying off. Still, parents should know that most subjects remain below state averages, and the biggest priorities for improvement are clearly 8th grade math and reducing chronic absenteeism.
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