Summary:
Neshoba County Schools contains exactly one middle school, Neshoba Central Middle School, which serves grades 6–8 in Philadelphia, MS, with an enrollment of 645 students and a student-teacher ratio of 12.3. Because it is the district's only middle school, the school's results are the district's results, and the district’s impressive 3rd-place ranking out of 134 Mississippi districts directly reflects this school’s performance.
The school holds a 5-star rating and has ranked in the top 10% of Mississippi middle schools for three consecutive years, most recently placing 26th out of 260 (90th percentile). It outperforms the state in every subject and grade level, with mathematics as a clear standout: 8th grade math proficiency is 84.4% versus the state’s 51.4%, a remarkable 33-point gap, while 6th and 7th grade math lead the state by 27.7 and 19.1 points respectively. English Language Arts is solid but less dominant, with proficiency gaps ranging from +5.2 to +9.3 points, and 8th grade science is also strong at 75.1% proficient versus 57.8% statewide. This academic success is especially notable given that 70.23% of students qualify for free/reduced lunch, indicating effective instruction that overcomes economic barriers.
However, recent year-to-year data shows a few concerning declines. The most significant is 7th grade ELA, which fell from 61.3% to 46.0% proficient — a 15.3-point drop while the state average barely moved. 7th grade math also dropped 8.9 points, and 8th grade ELA fell 7.9 points. Chronic absenteeism is better than average at 17.1% (compared to 21.9% district and 23.9% state), but still means roughly 1 in 6 students misses significant school time. Overall, Neshoba Central Middle School is a high-achieving, 5-star school with exceptional math outcomes and strong science performance. The main area to watch is the recent 7th grade declines, which may warrant targeted support, but the school remains one of Mississippi’s top middle schools.
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