Summary:
McComb School District in Mississippi is served by two middle-level schools—Denman Junior High School (grades 7–8) and Higgins Middle School (grades 4–6)—both of which serve 100% economically disadvantaged students and face significant attendance challenges.
Denman Junior High School stands out for dramatic year-over-year academic improvement. Its state ranking jumped from the 16th to the 35th percentile between 2024–25 and 2025–26, driven by a remarkable 8th-grade math gain from 9.9% to 47.6% proficiency and a science jump from 23.2% to 51.0%. Higgins Middle School, by contrast, declined in most subjects over the same period, with 6th-grade math falling from 52.0% to 33.6% and 6th-grade ELA from 40.0% to 29.5%.
Both schools trail state averages in every subject. Denman's 7th-grade math proficiency is 41.2% versus the state's 57.7%, while Higgins' 5th-grade ELA is 35.0% versus 55.8%. Chronic absenteeism is a district-wide concern: Denman's rate is 43.5% and Higgins' is 36.0%, compared to the state average of 23.9%. Higgins has a smaller student-to-teacher ratio (11.0) than Denman (14.2), which may help its younger students, but its declining scores suggest the need for instructional intervention.
For parents, the key takeaway is that the two schools are moving in opposite directions. Denman's improvement, especially in math and science, is encouraging, but it has not yet returned to its 2023–24 level. Because Higgins' 6th grade feeds into Denman's 7th grade, continued declines at Higgins could weaken future outcomes at Denman. District leaders in McComb School District should focus on replicating Denman's gains, stabilizing Higgins, and addressing chronic absenteeism—a systemic barrier that affects both schools.
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