Reimagine Prep

Reimagine Prep is a single middle school serving grades 5 through 8 in Jackson, MS, operating as its own district and serving 457 students, where 100% of students qualify for free/reduced lunch. The school holds a 0-star rating and currently sits in the 3rd percentile statewide (ranked 130 out of 134 districts), down from the 23rd percentile in the 2023-2024 school year, indicating relative performance has slipped despite recent gains. With a student-teacher ratio of 21.7:1 and chronic absenteeism at 41.9%—nearly double the state average of 23.9%—the school faces substantial challenges tied to high poverty and attendance.

Despite the low ranking, the 2025-2026 school year brought remarkable academic progress, with improvements in 9 of 10 subject-grade combinations. The standout gains were in 5th grade math, which jumped 27.9 percentage points (from 4.4% to 32.3% proficiency), and 5th grade science, which rose 23.0 points (from 30.4% to 53.4% proficiency), making 5th grade the clear bright spot across the school. 7th grade ELA also posted a strong 14.8-point gain, and 8th grade math improved by 12.3 points. However, 6th grade mathematics remains the most critical weakness, with only 13.7% of students proficient compared to the state average of 52.7%—a 39-point gap that is the largest of any subject or grade in the data. 6th grade ELA is also notably weak at 24.7% proficiency versus 48.0% statewide, suggesting a significant transition challenge when students enter middle school.

One of the most interesting takeaways is that despite these significant test score improvements, Reimagine Prep's state percentile ranking stayed flat at the 7th percentile in both 2024-2025 and 2025-2026, meaning other schools across Mississippi are improving at a similar or faster rate. For parents, the picture is one of a high-poverty school with real, measurable momentum in early middle school grades, but pressing needs in 6th grade math and attendance intervention. The school's 100% poverty rate and high chronic absenteeism are critical barriers, yet the strong gains in 5th grade demonstrate that targeted instructional improvements can yield results. Sustaining the 2025-2026 momentum, specifically focusing on 6th grade math and reducing chronic absenteeism, will be essential for the school to climb out of the bottom 5% of Mississippi schools in the coming years.