Best Public Schools in Ripley, MS

Ripley, Mississippi, is served by four public schools within the South Tippah School District: Ripley Elementary School (K–4), Ripley Middle School (5–8), Ripley High School (9–12), and Pine Grove High School (PK–12 alternative), together serving a largely low-income student population with about 78.5% free/reduced lunch eligibility. The district as a whole ranks near the 75th percentile in Mississippi with a 4-star rating, and the schools show a clear pattern: strong math and science performance in early grades, but literacy skills decline sharply by high school.

Among the standout schools, Ripley Middle School has made the most impressive gain, jumping from the 39th percentile statewide in 2023–2024 to the 60th percentile in 2025–2026, with 5th grade math proficiency at 71.9% versus 49.6% statewide. Ripley Elementary School posts the lowest chronic absenteeism (11.8% vs. 23.9% statewide) and very strong 3rd grade math (73.3% vs. 48.8% statewide), though its overall ranking has slipped in recent years. Ripley High School boasts a 95.7% graduation rate and excellent biology (85.4% proficient) and Algebra I (75.5% proficient) scores, yet its English II proficiency fell to just 39.1% in 2025–2026. Pine Grove High School, despite its alternative label, is a large PK–12 campus with 573 students and a 94.9% graduation rate, showing strong U.S. History and science results but weak 8th grade ELA.

The most urgent issue across the city is a steady decline in English Language Arts as students advance: at Ripley Middle School, ELA proficiency drops from 57.3% in 5th grade to 32.0% in 8th grade, and math follows a similar downward slide. Chronic absenteeism rises with grade level, affecting Ripley High School most severely at 27.3%, likely contributing to weak secondary literacy. For parents, this means the district’s clear strength is STEM instruction, especially in elementary and middle grades, while the high schools need focused support to raise reading and writing skills. The middle school’s recent improvement shows the district can reverse these trends, making secondary literacy the key battleground for sustaining academic growth in Ripley.