Summary:
Prentiss County School District in rural Mississippi is served by a single public high school, New Site High School, which enrolls 239 students in grades 9–12 and maintains a low student-to-teacher ratio of 10.2. This small school is a remarkable academic standout, ranking 13th out of 224 Mississippi high schools for 2025–2026, placing it in the 94th percentile with a 5-star rating from SchoolDigger. Over the past three years, it has never fallen below the top 25 in the state, and its performance consistently exceeds both the Prentiss County School District and state averages in every tested subject.
Parents will be impressed by the school’s core academic results. On the latest MAAP exams, 90.9% of students scored proficient in Biology (vs. 63.1% statewide), 78.4% in Algebra I (vs. 66.0% statewide), and 70.9% in English II (vs. 49.3% statewide). Even with a notable drop in Algebra I proficiency from 93.1% to 78.4%, the school remains well above district and state levels. Its science program is a particular strength, with Biology proficiency about 28–31 points above the state for two straight years. The school also improved English II by 8.4 points year over year, suggesting effective instructional changes. With 68.2% of students qualifying for free or reduced-price lunch, these achievements are especially noteworthy.
The main challenges lie outside test scores. The graduation rate of 88.2% is below the district (90.6%) and state (89.2%), and chronic absenteeism of 19.6% exceeds the district average of 14.5%, though it is lower than the state’s 23.9%. Despite these concerns, the school’s small class sizes, low student-to-teacher ratio, and top-tier state ranking make it an excellent choice for families seeking rigorous academics in a rural setting. Overall, New Site High School is an exceptionally high-performing school that drives its district’s success and stands among Mississippi’s best.
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