Schools in Magee, MS

The city of Magee, Mississippi, is served by three public schools in the Simpson County School District — Magee Elementary School, Magee Middle School, and Magee High School — covering grades K-12 with a combined enrollment of about 1,165 students. All three schools operate within a district ranked 110th out of 134 districts in Mississippi, earning a 1-star rating, and they serve predominantly low-income families, with 85% to 94% of students qualifying for free or reduced-price lunch.

Among the three schools, Magee Middle School is the strongest performer, ranking in the 27th percentile statewide and improving its position for three straight years. It posts the city's only test score above the state average: 58.5% of 7th graders are proficient in math, versus 57.7% statewide. Magee Elementary School offers the healthiest school environment, with the lowest chronic absenteeism rate (31.6%) and solid 5th grade science results (53.6% proficient). Magee High School, despite sitting in the 11th percentile, showed a dramatic Biology turnaround, jumping from 21.7% to 44.6% proficiency, and improved English II scores to 34.6%. However, its graduation rate of 78.3% trails the state average of 89.2%.

The defining challenge across Magee is chronic absenteeism. At Magee Middle School and Magee High School, more than half of students are chronically absent (53.8% and 56.8% respectively) — more than double the state average of 23.9%. This almost certainly drives the low test scores, since students cannot learn if they are not in class. For parents, the picture is mixed: the middle school is on an upward trajectory with a proven bright spot in 7th grade math, the elementary school has the best attendance and strongest community ties, and the high school is making targeted gains in science. Overall, these schools face significant challenges, but the consistent improvements at the middle school and the high school biology jump show that progress is achievable.