Stone County School District

Stone County School District is a highly rated 5-star district in Mississippi serving 2,532 students across four schools: two K-5 elementary schools (Stone Elementary School and Perkinston Elementary School), one middle school (Stone Middle School), and one high school (Stone High School).

The standout performer is Stone Middle School, ranked in the top 11% of Mississippi middle schools with particularly strong math and science scores, though its 7th grade English Language Arts proficiency is a clear weak spot. Perkinston Elementary School is the most improved, jumping from the 108th to 67th rank among elementary schools and posting the district’s lowest chronic absenteeism rate. Stone High School has a solid 91% graduation rate and above-average test scores, but its state ranking has declined for three straight years, making it worth watching. Stone Elementary School serves the highest percentage of students eligible for free/reduced lunch and has the largest class sizes, yet it produced the district’s highest single subject score — 80.7% proficiency in 3rd grade math — alongside the district’s only below-state score in 4th grade math.

Overall, the district outperforms state averages in nearly every subject and grade, with the only exception being Stone Elementary’s 4th grade math. Both elementary schools have relatively low chronic absenteeism (around 20-21%), while the middle and high schools hover near 28-31%, suggesting attendance is a secondary-level challenge. The most significant opportunities for improvement are addressing the sharp 4th grade math drop at Stone Elementary, boosting 7th grade literacy at Stone Middle, lowering chronic absenteeism in the secondary schools, and reversing Stone High’s gradual ranking decline. With strong leadership and targeted interventions, this district is well positioned to move from strong to elite.