Best Public Schools in Morton, MS

Morton, Mississippi is served by three public schools in the Scott County School District: Morton Elementary School (grades PK–4), Bettye Mae Jack Middle School (grades 5–8), and Morton High School (grades 9–12), all serving a community where nearly every student (99.4–99.6%) comes from economically disadvantaged households.

There are real bright spots worth celebrating. Morton Elementary School posts 3rd grade math proficiency of 52.6%, beating both the district and state averages, though this advantage fades dramatically by 4th grade (29.1% vs. 51.5% statewide). Bettye Mae Jack Middle School achieves a remarkable 100% proficiency on the Algebra I end-of-course exam, far surpassing the state, but struggles in 7th grade English (just 13.5% proficient). Morton High School faces the most serious challenges: nearly half of students are chronically absent, the graduation rate is just 76.4%, and end-of-course proficiency in Algebra I, English II, and Biology all trail state averages by double digits.

All three schools receive a 1-star rating and rank below the 25th percentile in Mississippi, though both elementary and middle school have improved from their prior-year lows. The district itself earns 3 stars, meaning other schools in Scott County lift the overall rating. For parents, the key takeaway is that younger students show early promise, but momentum is lost through middle school, and attendance problems derail many high schoolers. The standout successes—3rd grade math and 8th grade Algebra I—prove that high-poverty schools here can achieve at or above state levels, making these programs valuable models to replicate across the district.