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Simpson Central School

Q: Is Simpson Central School a good school?

Simpson Central School ranks 248 th of 377 Mississippi elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 2 stars out of 5.

Public Grades PK, KG-8

248^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 377 Mississippi Elementary Schools

Better than 34% of Mississippi elementary schools

Summary

Simpson Central School in Pinola, MS, is a K-8 school serving 388 students in the Simpson County School District, where it stands as the highest-performing elementary school in the district despite serving a student body where 84% qualify for free/reduced lunch. The school has a student-teacher ratio of 15.1-to-1, which is more favorable than Magee Elementary School's 17.0 and Mendenhall Elementary School's 16.1. Historically a 4-star school, Simpson Central has slipped in recent years, falling from the 87th percentile in 2015-16 to the 34th percentile in 2025-26.

There are several bright spots worth noting. Simpson Central outperforms its district by a wide margin: in 2025-26, math proficiency across grades 3-8 was 49.2% versus a district average of 38.3%, and ELA proficiency was 37.0% versus 32.1%. The school's chronic absenteeism rate of 21.7% in 2023-24 is nearly half the district rate of 41.0% and well below Magee Elementary School (31.6%) and Mendenhall Elementary School (35.7%). The 5th-grade math program is particularly strong at 68.8% proficiency, far exceeding the state average of 49.6% and approaching McLaurin Elementary's 77.4%. Middle-school grades also shine: 7th-grade ELA proficiency reached 52.2% versus the state's 36.7%, and 8th-grade science hit 51.1%.

However, the school faces real challenges. Its state ranking has dropped dramatically since 2018-19, and the 2025-26 dip is concentrated in lower grades — 3rd-grade ELA fell from 49% to 38.4% and 6th-grade math dropped from 64.4% to 35.3%, while 7th-grade ELA actually improved. Chronic absenteeism has tripled from 7.3% before the pandemic to 21.7%, though it remains far better than the district's 41.0% crisis level. Compared to New Hebron School, another K-8 school with similar poverty, Simpson Central ranks lower overall but performs better in 5th-grade math (68.8% vs. 30.4%). The central challenge is reversing the post-2019 decline through targeted early-grade interventions, continued attendance efforts, and resources that support its dual elementary-and-middle-school mission.

388

Students ?

15.1

Student/teacher ratio ?

$12,631

Per pupil spending ?

84%

Free/discounted lunch ?

755 Simpson Hwy 28 W
Pinola, MS 39114

(601) 847-2630

District: Simpson County School District

Students who attend Simpson Central School usually attend:

High:

Mendenhall High School

Racial breakdown:

White:

56.4%

African American:

38.7%

Two or more races:

2.6%

See top rated Mississippi elementary schools

Compare Simpson Central School to nearby elementary schools!

At a glance

▼ Ranking trend: Declining — 87th percentile in 2016 → 34th in 2026

Worth a look

!Test scores below the Mississippi average (45% vs 52% meeting standards)

!Ranking has slipped — down 53 percentile points since 2016

!Science scores 11 pts below the Mississippi average

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school45%

District avg38%

Mississippi avg52%

Elementary school

248^th of 377

Mississippi public elementary schools ?

Bottom 34%▼ down 52 pts since 2016

From top 13% (2016) to bottom 34% (2026)

See the entire ranking list of Mississippi Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

Middle school

141^st of 263

Mississippi public middle schools ?

Bottom 46%▼ down 40 pts since 2016

From top 13% (2016) to bottom 46% (2026)

See the entire ranking list of Mississippi Middle Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

1^st of 3Elementary Schools in the Simpson County School District

111^th of 133Simpson County School District among Mississippi districts

Statewide rank percentile over time (100 = the top-ranked school in the state; click a legend item to add a student group)

Elementary school ranking

Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Mississippi percentile	Rating
2026	35.5	248 of 377	34.2%	★★☆☆☆
2025	53.4	178 of 383	53.5%	★★★☆☆
2024	58.5	162 of 390	58.5%	★★★☆☆
2023	55.5	161 of 377	57.3%	★★★☆☆
2022	54.8	167 of 382	56.3%	★★★☆☆
2021	50.8	191 of 381	49.9%	★★★☆☆
2019	71.9	99 of 397	75.1%	★★★★☆
2018	70.4	111 of 404	72.5%	★★★★☆
2017	78.0	72 of 406	82.3%	★★★★☆
2016	82.7	53 of 394	86.5%	★★★★☆
2015	86.7	41 of 402	89.8%	★★★★★
2014	90.7	15 of 394	96.2%	★★★★★
2013	78.9	76 of 408	81.4%	★★★★☆
2012	80.5	63 of 414	84.8%	★★★★☆
2011	64.3	146 of 418	65.1%	★★★☆☆
2010	58.6	163 of 403	59.6%	★★★☆☆
2009	48.3	209 of 392	46.7%	★★☆☆☆
2008	55.3	184 of 394	53.3%	★★★☆☆

Middle school ranking

Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Mississippi percentile	Rating
2026	44.9	141 of 263	46.4%	★★☆☆☆
2025	51.0	129 of 266	51.5%	★★★☆☆
2024	48.2	140 of 264	47.0%	★★☆☆☆
2023	34.7	153 of 243	37.0%	★★☆☆☆
2022	63.3	99 of 257	61.5%	★★★☆☆
2021	69.4	75 of 257	70.8%	★★★★☆
2019	77.0	53 of 264	79.9%	★★★★☆
2018	73.8	61 of 252	75.8%	★★★★☆
2017	83.7	37 of 272	86.4%	★★★★☆
2016	81.8	35 of 260	86.5%	★★★★☆
2015	87.9	24 of 266	91.0%	★★★★★
2014	90.0	8 of 264	97.0%	★★★★★
2013	82.2	39 of 269	85.5%	★★★★☆
2012	67.7	87 of 270	67.8%	★★★☆☆
2011	54.4	133 of 264	49.6%	★★★☆☆
2010	66.9	80 of 255	68.6%	★★★☆☆
2009	49.8	132 of 247	46.6%	★★☆☆☆
2008	66.5	77 of 244	68.4%	★★★☆☆

By subject vs Mississippi (2025-2026) ?

Science53%-11 vs state

Mathematics49%-3 vs state

English Language Arts37%-10 vs state

4.0

2 ratings · 1 written review

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What people are saying

by a parent
Tuesday, September 18, 2012

My children have been in this school for a few years and its getting better. Still needs work in the level of education. When my children first got there they were using books from previous years in other schools they attended. Also need more lockers for the students or stop requesting a lot of items that they have to carry all day. Backpacks are to heavy full of items. To many innappropriate comments and actions that didnt get taken care of properly also. New year and im hoping for a better one. Close Quote

Schools Near Simpson Central School

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Ranking:

E Elementary M Middle H High A Alternative P Private

Choose columns to see: Summary School Students/Teachers Ranking Test Scores Finance All

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2026)				Ranking (2025)				MAAP English Language Arts (2026)						MAAP Mathematics (2026)						MAAP Science (2026)		Per Pupil Expenditures (2024)
Name	Type	Grades	Address	City	Zip	County	District	Is Charter	Is Magnet	Is Virtual	Is Title I	Phone	Enrollment	Full-time Teachers	Student/ Teacher Ratio	Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients (2025)	White	Black	Hispanic	Asian	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Average Standard Score (2026)	Statewide Rank (2026)	State Percentile (2026)	SchoolDigger Rating (2026)	Average Standard Score (2025)	Statewide Rank (2025)	State Percentile (2025)	Rank Change from Previous Year	MAAP English Language Arts 3rd Grade	MAAP English Language Arts 4th Grade	MAAP English Language Arts 5th Grade	MAAP English Language Arts 6th Grade	MAAP English Language Arts 7th Grade	MAAP English Language Arts 8th Grade	MAAP Mathematics 3rd Grade	MAAP Mathematics 4th Grade	MAAP Mathematics 5th Grade	MAAP Mathematics 6th Grade	MAAP Mathematics 7th Grade	MAAP Mathematics 8th Grade	MAAP Science 5th Grade	MAAP Science 8th Grade	Total
Simpson Central School	Public	PK, KG-8	755 Simpson Hwy 28 W	Pinola	39114	Simpson County	Simpson County School District	No	No	No	Yes	(601) 847-2630	388	26	15.1	84.0%	219 (56.4%)	150 (38.7%)	5 (1.3%)	4 (1.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	10 (2.6%)	35.5	248^th of 377 public elementary schools	34.2%		53.4	178^th of 383 public elementary schools	53.5%	70	38.4	40.0	31.3	32.4	52.2	27.7	38.5	53.3	68.8	35.3	56.5	42.6	56.3	51.1	$12,631
New Hebron School	Public	K-8	120 Golden Bear Lane	Newhebron	39140	Lawrence County	Lawrence County School District	No	No	No	Yes	(601) 694-2151	259	24	10.6	96.9%	87 (33.6%)	159 (61.4%)	3 (1.2%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	10 (3.9%)	47.9	196^th of 377 public elementary schools	48.0%		42.7	222^nd of 383 public elementary schools	42.0%	26	52.0	53.9	39.1	58.3	23.1	18.7	48.0	42.3	30.4	70.9	38.4	9.4	47.8	28.2	$14,466
Mendenhall Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-6	814 East Street	Mendenhall	39114	Simpson County	Simpson County School District	No	No	No	Yes	(601) 847-2621	598	37	16.1	86.6%	273 (45.7%)	292 (48.8%)	14 (2.3%)	2 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	17 (2.8%)	26.2	297^th of 377 public elementary schools	21.2%		26.9	292^nd of 383 public elementary schools	23.8%	5	30.6	50.8	41.6	27.6			41.1	37.0	27.3	30.1			62.4		$11,389
Crystal Springs Elementary	Public	K-4	213 Newton Street	Crystal Springs	39059	Copiah County	Copiah County School District	No	No	No	Yes	(601) 892-4795	482	26	18.4	100.0%	46 (9.5%)	373 (77.4%)	62 (12.9%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	38.9	231^st of 377 public elementary schools	38.7%		31.1	272^nd of 383 public elementary schools	29.0%	41	35.6	50.0					20.5	52.9							$9,893
Hazlehurst Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	112 Marvin Minor Drive	Hazlehurst	39083	Copiah County	Hazlehurst City School District	No	No	No	Yes	(601) 894-3960	643	37	17.5	99.5%	10 (1.6%)	474 (73.7%)	136 (21.2%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (0.3%)	2 (0.3%)	19 (3.0%)	23.4	310^th of 377 public elementary schools	17.8%		24.9	303^rd of 383 public elementary schools	20.9%	7	31.9	39.8	50.5				17.0	27.3	20.6				65.6		$11,635
McLaurin Elementary	Public	PK, KG-6	2693 Star Rd.	Florence	39073	Rankin County	Rankin County School District	No	No	No	Yes	(601) 845-2127	504	40	12.7	75.2%	352 (69.8%)	71 (14.1%)	35 (6.9%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	45 (8.9%)	82.1	53^rd of 377 public elementary schools	85.9%		75.6	79^th of 383 public elementary schools	79.4%	26	63.2	63.3	69.4	60.3			54.4	69.6	77.4	64.1			87.1		$12,097
Magee Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	1035 Goodwater Rd NW	Magee	39111	Simpson County	Simpson County School District	No	No	No	Yes	(601) 849-3601	525	31	17.0	92.0%	144 (27.4%)	317 (60.4%)	32 (6.1%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	31 (5.9%)	21.4	318^th of 377 public elementary schools	15.6%		22.1	319^th of 383 public elementary schools	16.7%	1	27.1	26.7	36.2				41.9	33.8	37.6				53.6		$11,172
Florence Elementary	Public	3-5	285 Hwy 469 N	Florence	39073	Rankin County	Rankin County School District	No	No	No	No	(601) 845-8164	537	35	15.2	48.2%	433 (80.6%)	71 (13.2%)	8 (1.5%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	24 (4.5%)	96.1	5^th of 377 public elementary schools	98.7%		93.3	15^th of 383 public elementary schools	96.1%	10	81.0	83.1	80.9				75.8	83.6	87.1				92.9		$10,815
Steens Creek Elementary	Public	PK, KG-2	300 Hwy 469 N	Florence	39073	Rankin County	Rankin County School District	No	No	No	No	(601) 845-5724	582	34	16.9	48.5%	482 (82.8%)	61 (10.5%)	7 (1.2%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (0.3%)	29 (5.0%)								(n/a)															$11,358

Frequently Asked Questions about Simpson Central School

How many students attend Simpson Central School?

In the 2024-25 school year, 388 students attended Simpson Central School.

What is the racial makeup of Simpson Central School?

Students at Simpson Central School are 56% White, 39% African American, 3% Two or more races, 1% Hispanic, 1% Asian.

What district is Simpson Central School in?

Simpson County School District

Is Simpson Central School a good school?

Simpson Central School ranks 248^th of 377 Mississippi elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 2 stars out of 5.

What schools do graduates of Simpson Central School attend?

Students who attend Simpson Central School usually go on to attend:

High : Mendenhall High School

Rate Simpson Central School!

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Latest Mississippi data All new data »

2025–26 MAAP test scoresAug 21, 2026

2023–24 school spending dataSep 26, 2025

2023–24 through 2024–25 attendance data & graduation ratesSep 26, 2025

2023–24 graduation ratesSep 23, 2025

SchoolDigger data sources: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education, the U.S. Census Bureau and the Mississippi Department of Education.

IMPORTANT DISCLAIMERS: Not all boundaries are included. We make every effort to ensure that boundaries are up-to-date. But it's important to note that these are approximations and are for general informational purposes only. To verify legal descriptions of boundaries or school locations, contact your local tax assessor's office and/or school district.