Best Public Schools in Pinola, MS

Pinola, Mississippi is served by a single school, Simpson Central School, an elementary school in the Simpson County School District that enrolls 388 students across grades kindergarten through eighth grade. As the only school in the city, Simpson Central is the sole educational option for Pinola families, and it stands as one of the stronger schools within a district that ranks 110th out of 134 districts in Mississippi and carries a 1-star rating. The school itself has earned a 2-star rating and sits in the 34th percentile statewide, having declined from a 3-star rating and the 58th percentile three years ago.

Despite the district's challenges, Simpson Central posts several impressive results. Seventh graders at the school achieved 52.2% proficiency in English Language Arts, well above the district's 27.6% and the state's 36.7%. In math, 5th graders posted a standout 68.8% proficiency rate compared to 38.7% for the district and 49.6% for the state, while 7th grade math reached 56.5% proficiency, nearly matching the state average. The school outperforms its district on 10 of 14 subject-grade tests. Attendance is another bright spot: with 84% of students eligible for free or reduced lunch, the chronic absenteeism rate of 21.7% is actually below the state average of 23.9% and dramatically below the district's 41.0%.

However, concerning trends are worth noting. Simpson Central's state ranking has fallen from 162nd to 247th over the past three years, and most tested subjects saw sharp year-over-year declines, including 6th grade math, which dropped from 64.4% to 35.3% proficient. Science remains an area of need, with 5th grade science proficiency at 56.3% versus 71.5% statewide and 8th grade science at 51.1% versus 57.8% statewide. The school also shows a notable internal gap in 5th grade, where math proficiency (68.8%) far exceeds ELA proficiency (31.3%). With small grade-level cohorts, these fluctuations may partly reflect natural variation, but the overall downward trend in rankings and proficiency suggests families should watch the school's progress closely in the coming years.