Summary:
Philadelphia Public School District contains just one high school—Philadelphia High School—serving grades 7 through 12 with 327 students in a high-poverty community where 100% of students qualify for free/reduced lunch. Because this is the district's only high school, its performance data is identical to the district's, meaning the district's rank of 104 out of 134 in Mississippi is entirely a reflection of this single school. The school currently holds a 1-star rating and ranks in the bottom 10% of Mississippi high schools, but it does maintain a favorable 10.9:1 student-to-teacher ratio.
Academically, the picture is mixed, with the standout result in 7th grade math: 65.8% proficient in 2025-2026, beating the 57.7% state average and representing a 32.5-point jump from the prior year. Seventh grade ELA also improved from 23.5% to 36.9%, essentially matching the state average. However, 8th grade math sits at just 26.5% versus the 51.4% state average, and end-of-course exams in Biology (31.7%), English II (34.1%), and Algebra I (42.4%) fall far below state levels. The graduation rate is 82.4% versus the state's 89.2%, while chronic absenteeism at 22.4% is slightly better than the state's 23.9%.
For parents, the key takeaway is that early middle school subjects, especially 7th grade math, are genuine strengths, but the school struggles to sustain gains into 8th grade and high school. The 39-point gap between 7th grade math success and 8th grade math performance suggests a difficult transition or a very different cohort. Weak end-of-course results in Biology, Algebra I, and English II are especially concerning because those exams directly affect graduation requirements. The low student-teacher ratio suggests class sizes are manageable, and with a single-school district, any improvement at Philadelphia High School directly lifts the entire district. While the state ranking has stayed in the bottom 10% for three years, the 7th grade gains show meaningful progress is possible.
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