Summary:
The Harrison County School District in Mississippi serves three traditional public high schools — Harrison Central High, D'Iberville High, and West Harrison High — all covering grades 9 through 12 with enrollments between roughly 1,200 and 1,500 students. The district ranks 15th out of 134 Mississippi districts with a 4-star rating, and all three high schools have earned 5 stars for the 2025–2026 school year, though they differ noticeably in academics, demographics, and momentum.
West Harrison High is the clear academic leader, ranked #1 in Mississippi out of 224 high schools and boasting the highest graduation rate (94.1%) along with the top proficiency scores in Algebra I, English II, Biology, and U.S. History. D'Iberville High is a strong, stable performer, ranked 10th in the state with the lowest chronic absenteeism (21.3%) and the lowest share of students receiving free or reduced lunch (58.5%). Harrison Central High serves a student body where nearly 99% qualify for free or reduced lunch, and while its graduation rate (83.2%) and absenteeism rate (24.8%) are the weakest in the district, it has made a remarkable turnaround — jumping from 90th to 18th in state ranking in a single year, with a 14-point gain in English II proficiency and a 13.5-point gain in Biology.
All three schools outperform state averages in core subjects, with average MAAP proficiency rates ranging from 76.3% at Harrison Central to 85.8% at West Harrison, compared to a 66% state average in Algebra I. English II remains the weakest subject across the board and is a clear target for improvement. Notably, West Harrison outperforms D'Iberville on nearly every academic measure despite having a higher poverty rate, demonstrating that economic disadvantage does not determine outcomes. The district's biggest challenges are graduation rates — D'Iberville and Harrison Central both fall below the state average of 89.2% — and chronic absenteeism, particularly at Harrison Central.
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