Perry Central Middle School

Perry Central Middle School is a public middle school located in New Augusta, Mississippi, serving grades 6-8 with a total enrollment of 203 students. The school is part of the Perry County School District, which is ranked 80 out of 130 districts in the state and has a 2-star rating from SchoolDigger.

Perry Central Middle School has consistently high chronic absenteeism rates, ranging from 20.1% to 23.9% over the past few years, significantly higher than the state average. The school's test scores in English Language Arts, Mathematics, and Science are generally below the state and district averages, with proficiency rates ranging from 35.1% to 66.7% in the 2024-2025 school year, compared to state averages of 37.3% to 54.7%. Additionally, the school has an extremely high percentage of students receiving free or reduced-price lunch, ranging from 71.43% to 98.63% over the past few years, indicating a high level of economic disadvantage among the student population.

When comparing Perry Central Middle School to nearby schools, such as Petal Middle School and Hattiesburg Steam Academy, there are significant differences in performance. Petal Middle School consistently outperforms Perry Central Middle School and the state averages in test scores, with proficiency rates ranging from 52.7% to 81.3% in the 2024-2025 school year. Additionally, Perry Central Middle School's statewide ranking has declined over the years, from 165 out of 264 middle schools in 2013-2014 to 91 out of 266 in 2024-2025, suggesting that the school may be struggling to keep up with the academic progress of other middle schools in the state.