Best Public Schools in Macon, MS

Macon, Mississippi is served by three public schools in the Noxubee County School District—Earl Nash Elementary (PK–5, 611 students), B F Liddell Middle (6–8, 305 students), and Noxubee County High (9–12, 405 students)—with nearly every student eligible for free or reduced lunch, making poverty a defining factor across all schools.

Looking at the three schools, Noxubee County High is the clear standout and the district’s main success story. Its state ranking jumped from the 9th percentile in 2023-24 to the 41st percentile in 2025-26, its star rating went from 0 to 2 stars, and its English II proficiency (52.6%) now beats the state average (49.3%). The high school’s graduation rate (81.3%) still trails the state (89.2%), but the upward momentum is real. B F Liddell Middle has one bright spot: 88.9% of its Algebra I test-takers are proficient, far above the state’s 66%, though this likely reflects that only advanced students take Algebra I in middle school. Overall middle school math remains weak, with just 21% proficiency in 8th grade math. Earl Nash Elementary ranks the lowest (2nd percentile) and struggles most in math—4th and 6th grade math proficiency are 12.5% and 4.1% respectively—but its 5th grade science (42.7%) and 5th grade ELA (37.3%) give parents a relative bright spot.

Across the district, math is the biggest weakness, with proficiency gaps of 28 to 39 points below state averages in most grades. Science is somewhat stronger, though still below state levels. Chronic absenteeism is a serious issue, especially at the high school where 35.5% of students are chronically absent versus the state’s 23.9%—yet the high school still improved dramatically. Since each school is the only one in its grade span, the school and district scores are basically the same, except for Algebra I which blends very different middle and high school populations. The most practical takeaway for parents: Noxubee County High is on the rise, B F Liddell Middle excels in accelerated math, and Earl Nash Elementary needs the most attention, particularly in math.