Summary:
Chickasaw County School District is home to a single middle school, Houston Middle School, which serves 352 students in grades 6 through 8 in Houston, Mississippi. As the district's only middle school, its performance shapes all district-level middle school results. The school serves a high-poverty population, with 78.41% of students qualifying for free or reduced lunch, and maintains a favorable student-teacher ratio of 11.6 to 1. However, chronic absenteeism is a concern: 28.5% of students are chronically absent, compared to 23.6% for the district and 23.9% for the state.
Academically, Houston Middle School shows both strengths and weaknesses. Math is the standout subject: in 2025-2026, 6th grade math proficiency was 58.3% and 7th grade reached 61.0%, both above state averages. However, 8th grade math fell from 58.8% to 45.9%, dropping below the state average. In English Language Arts, 6th grade improved dramatically from 33.9% to 47.8%, nearly matching the state average, but 7th and 8th grade ELA remain low at 27.1% and 28.6%. Science is the biggest concern: 8th grade proficiency plunged from 47.9% to 35.7%, leaving a 22.1-point gap below the state.
The school's overall percentile rank has slipped from 56th to 46th over two years, and its star rating dropped from 3 to 2 stars. Overall proficiency declined from 45.5% to 43.5%, while the state improved to 49.3%, widening the gap. For parents, the key takeaway is that Houston Middle School offers strong math instruction and a low student-teacher ratio that supports individualized attention. However, chronic absenteeism and weak 8th grade performance, especially in science, are urgent concerns. As the district's only middle school, improving Houston Middle School is the most direct way to improve middle-level education across the district.
Thank you for your feedback!