Neshoba Central Middle School

Neshoba Central Middle School, located in Philadelphia, MS, serves 645 students in grades 6–8 and is part of the Neshoba County Schools district, which ranks #3 out of 134 districts in Mississippi. The school itself has earned a 5-star rating and currently ranks 26th out of 260 Mississippi middle schools, placing it in the top 10% statewide. What makes this especially impressive is the school's transformation over the past decade—it went from the 48th percentile in 2015–2016 to the 96th percentile by 2024–2025.

Mathematics is clearly the school's superpower. In 2025–2026, 84.4% of 8th graders scored proficient in math, compared to just 51.4% statewide and 52.1% at nearby Union Middle School. Sixth and seventh grade math scores are similarly strong, with proficiency rates around 80% and 77% respectively. Science is also a standout, with 75.1% of 8th graders proficient versus 57.8% statewide. English Language Arts scores remain above state averages in most grades, though 7th grade ELA dipped from 61.3% to 46% this year, which is worth watching. Chronic absenteeism has improved dramatically from nearly 30% in 2021–2022 to 17.1%, better than the state average of 23.9%.

When compared to nearby schools, Neshoba's achievements stand out even more. Union Middle School, just 14 miles away, serves a similar population but trails Neshoba by over 30 percentage points in 8th grade math. The Union Public School District ranks #19 in Mississippi, while the Neshoba County Schools district ranks #3. Choctaw Central Middle School, less than 8 miles away, has limited public test data but serves a much smaller student body of 210 students. Neshoba's student–teacher ratio of 12.3 is better than Union's 14.2. The school serves a majority low-income population (70% free/reduced lunch) yet continues to outperform the state across nearly every subject. The main areas to monitor are the recent ELA dip and maintaining its top-10% ranking.