Middle School Of Poplarville

Middle School Of Poplarville serves 476 students in grades 6–8 in Poplarville, a small town in southeastern Mississippi, and is part of the Poplarville School District, ranked 8th out of 134 districts in the state (94th percentile, 5 stars). The school itself ranks 47th out of 260 Mississippi middle schools (82nd percentile, 4 stars) for 2025–2026—up from 72nd the prior year and 97th two years earlier—placing it well above the state median and on a clear upward trajectory.

Compared to Pearl River Central Junior High in Carriere, MS, about 16 miles away, Middle School Of Poplarville stands out on state MAAP tests, especially in English Language Arts and science. Poplarville's 6th grade ELA proficiency was 63.2% versus 49.8% at Pearl River Central, and its 8th grade science proficiency hit 74.4%—well above Pearl River Central's 67.9% and 16.6 points above the state average. Poplarville also posts a far lower chronic absenteeism rate (17.0% vs. 34.3% in 2023–2024) and a better student-teacher ratio (14.5 vs. 16.4), suggesting smaller classes and more individual attention. Since both schools serve similar shares of economically disadvantaged students (about 59% vs. 61%), the academic advantages are not explained by demographics.

The Poplarville School District outranks the Pearl River County School District (8th vs. 13th in Mississippi), pointing to strong leadership and resources. Poplarville's 8th grade science results are a consistent standout—74.4% in 2025–2026, 75.5% in 2024–2025, 68.8% in 2023–2024, and 75.0% in 2022–2023—well above typical state averages. Chronic absenteeism has also steadily declined, from 20.3% in 2021–2022 to 17.0% in 2023–2024, a likely contributor to strong test performance. One data caveat: free/reduced lunch eligibility jumped from 99.3% to 60.1% between 2022–2023 and 2023–2024, most likely due to updated reporting rules after the pandemic rather than a real change in student poverty.