Best High Schools in Tupelo, MS

Tupelo, Mississippi is served by a single public high school, Tupelo High School, which enrolls 2,123 students in grades 9 through 12 and is part of the Tupelo Public School District, a 3-star district ranked 59th out of 134 in Mississippi.

Because it is the only high school in the city, Tupelo High School's performance defines the district's high school profile. The school has remained stable in statewide rankings, sitting at the 50th percentile (112th out of 224 schools) for 2025–2026 with a 3-star rating. Its most concerning metric is chronic absenteeism at 41.5%, nearly double the state's 23.9% and well above the district's 29.3%. This likely contributes to the graduation rate of 84.2%, which beats the district's 83.3% but trails the state's 89.2%. Academically, results are mixed: the school matches or exceeds state averages in English II (51.8% vs. 49.3%) but lags in Algebra I (60.1% vs. 66.0%) and Biology (59.2% vs. 63.1%). Biology proficiency fell sharply by 8.7 points in a single year.

For parents, Tupelo High School is a large, middle-of-the-pack school serving a majority low-income population (61.5% free/reduced lunch). Positives include a favorable 13.8-to-1 student-teacher ratio and strengths in English II and U.S. History. However, chronic absenteeism, below-state graduation rates, and declining Biology proficiency are key concerns. The school is stable but not improving in rank, making it a consistent, average option where attendance and math/STEM support deserve attention.