Summary:
Marshall County School District is served by a single middle school, Byhalia Middle School, which enrolls 438 students in grades 5 through 8 in a predominantly rural Mississippi area. As the only middle school in Marshall County School District, Byhalia’s results directly shape the district’s middle school profile, and its students face significant economic challenges—nearly 99% qualify for free or reduced lunch.
Academically, Byhalia Middle School shows a mix of struggles and strengths. In the 2025–2026 school year, math proficiency averaged 30.8%, far below the state’s 52.9%, with 5th grade math posting the largest gap at 28 points below the state average. English Language Arts proficiency reached 35.3%, essentially matching the district average but trailing the state by about 10 points; 7th grade ELA is the weakest at 27.7% proficient. Science is the school’s clear bright spot, with 8th grade science reaching 57% proficiency, nearly matching the state’s 57.8%, and 5th grade science jumping from 35.7% to 53.7% in one year.
The most encouraging trend is the school’s rapid improvement. From 2024–2025 to 2025–2026, Byhalia gained 4.9 points in ELA, 5.5 points in math, and a remarkable 16.2 points in science, helping its state rank rise from 209th to 178th and its star rating climb from one to two stars. However, chronic absenteeism sits at 26.2%, slightly above the state average of 23.9%, and the school remains well below statewide proficiency in core subjects. Because Byhalia is the district’s only middle school, targeted investments in early-grade math instruction and attendance could yield immediate districtwide benefits, continuing the positive momentum these results demonstrate.
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