Summary:
The South Tippah School District in Mississippi contains only one middle school, Ripley Middle School, which serves students in grades 5-8. The school's performance and characteristics provide a mixed picture, with some areas of strength and others that present opportunities for improvement.
Ripley Middle School's statewide ranking has fluctuated in recent years, ranging from 97th out of 266 middle schools in 2024-2025 to 161st out of 264 in 2023-2024. The school's performance on standardized tests has been variable, with some grades and subjects scoring above the district and state averages, while others fall below. For example, in 2024-2025, the school's 5th grade students scored 55.4% proficient or better in ELA, compared to the district average of 56.3% and the state average of 55.9%. However, the school's 8th grade students scored 56.7% proficient or better in Mathematics, higher than the district average of 54.1% and the state average of 47.5%.
Ripley Middle School serves a predominantly economically disadvantaged population, with 74% of students receiving free or reduced-price lunch in the 2023-2024 school year. The school also has a relatively high chronic absenteeism rate of 23.9%, which could be a contributing factor to its academic performance and overall student outcomes. Addressing the root causes of chronic absenteeism and supporting the unique needs of the school's student population could be important areas of focus for the district and school leadership.
Thank you for your feedback!