Middle Schools in Okolona School District

The Okolona School District is home to just one middle school, Okolona Middle School, which serves grades 6 through 8 in Okolona, Mississippi, with 125 students. This small school has a 100% free/reduced lunch population but stands out for its very low chronic absenteeism rate of 5.9%, far better than the district’s 11.1% and the state’s 23.9%. The student–teacher ratio of 10.9 is favorable, meaning students generally have access to more individual attention, and their consistent attendance suggests a strong foundation for learning.

Academically, Okolona Middle School has held a steady 1-star rating and ranks in the bottom third of Mississippi middle schools, with a state percentile between 25th and 29th over the past three years. The school’s biggest strength is 8th grade science, which either exceeded or nearly matched the state average in both 2024–2025 and 2025–2026. However, mathematics is a persistent weakness, with proficiency gaps of 13 to 22 points below state averages across all grade levels. English Language Arts results are mixed: 7th grade ELA improved dramatically from 19.6% to 37.5% proficiency, slightly above the state average, but 8th grade ELA dropped sharply from 30.0% to 19.5%, leaving the school 21.4 points behind the state. Because the school is small, year-to-year swings can be driven by just a handful of students, so these changes should be interpreted with caution.

For parents, the key takeaway is that Okolona Middle School offers a caring, well-attended environment with a favorable teacher-student ratio, but academic proficiency in reading and math remains below state levels especially in 8th grade. The school’s strong science results and notable 7th grade ELA improvement show that progress is possible, and the low absenteeism rate means students are present and ready to learn. While the school’s overall ranking has been stable and low, the positive trends in specific subjects and the small class sizes provide reasons for cautious optimism. Parents should monitor grade-level progress closely and may want to seek additional support in math and 8th grade English Language Arts.