Best High Schools in Terry, MS

Terry, Mississippi is home to just one public high school, Terry High School, which serves students in grades 9–12 and is part of the Hinds County School District. With an enrollment of 1,127 students, a student–teacher ratio of 14.6, and nearly two-thirds of students (64.33%) qualifying for free or reduced-price lunch, the school operates in a high-poverty context that shapes many of its outcomes.

Terry High School has consistently earned a 2-star state accountability rating, but its percentile rank slipped from the 41st percentile in 2024–2025 to the 29th percentile in 2025–2026. The school shows a clear subject split: in 2025–2026, Biology proficiency soared to 74.2%—more than 11 points above the state average—while Algebra I proficiency was just 41.6% (24.4 points below state) and English II proficiency was 33.7% (15.6 points below state). In 2024–2025, U.S. History proficiency reached 79.1%, far outpacing the state’s 69.7%. However, Algebra I and English II both declined from the previous year. The graduation rate stands at 84.6%, which is above the district average of 83.0% but below the state average of 89.2%.

The most urgent concern is chronic absenteeism: 41.3% of Terry High School students are chronically absent, nearly double the district (23.5%) and state (23.9%) averages. This likely contributes to the school’s struggles in math and English, while the strong Biology and U.S. History results suggest effective instruction in those subjects. The school’s graduation rate remains a relative bright spot given its high poverty rate, but the recent drop in state ranking and declining core proficiency scores indicate that reducing absenteeism and boosting Algebra I and English II performance are critical next steps for improving its 2-star rating.