Summary:
Houston, Mississippi, is home to just one high school, Houston High School, a public school serving grades 9–12 with an enrollment of 529 students. The school is part of the Chickasaw County School District, a district ranked 51st out of 134 in Mississippi. For parents considering this area, Houston High School offers a mix of notable strengths and one significant challenge, making it a school worth watching closely.
Academically, Houston High School is a solid performer that has been improving. It currently holds a 3-star rating and jumped from the 58th percentile to the 68th percentile in statewide rankings between 2024–2025 and 2025–2026. The school outperforms Mississippi state averages in Algebra I, English II, and Biology, with particularly strong results in Algebra I (73.6% proficient) and Biology (68.3% proficient). The graduation rate is also a bright spot: 92.9% of students graduate, which beats both the district rate of 90.5% and the state rate of 89.2%. With a favorable 12.2:1 student-teacher ratio, families can expect relatively small class sizes and more opportunities for individualized attention.
The most concerning issue is chronic absenteeism. A striking 43.5% of Houston High School students were chronically absent in 2023–2024, nearly double the district (23.6%) and state (23.9%) averages. This is a red flag that could undermine future progress, even though current test scores remain strong. Additionally, while English II proficiency (53.9%) is above the state average, it is still the weakest core subject, and U.S. History proficiency (64.7%) was below the state average of 69.7% in the most recent year. Despite these areas for improvement, the school’s recent ranking gains, strong graduation rate, and above-average test performance—achieved while serving a student body with nearly 65% free/reduced lunch eligibility—suggest Houston High School is a resilient and improving option in Mississippi.
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