Summary:
There is just one public high school in zip code 39042 — Brandon High School, serving grades 9 through 12 in the community of Brandon, Mississippi. It is part of the Rankin County School District, which ranks 25th out of 134 districts in the state. With 1,609 students, a 14.1-to-1 student-teacher ratio, and a free/reduced lunch rate of 35.67%, Brandon is a fairly large high school with a moderate level of economic need among its families.
Brandon High School has several clear strengths. Its graduation rate is 95.5%, well above the state average of 89.2%, and chronic absenteeism is just 13.8% compared to 23.9% statewide. Academically, the school has shown strong results in U.S. History, where a standout 86.8% of students were proficient in 2024–2025, and in Biology, where proficiency hit 81.2% that same year — both far above state averages. English II proficiency was 65.7% in 2024–2025, also well ahead of the state's 49.5%. In the most recent testing cycle, English II and Biology remain roughly 6 to 7 points above the state average, so the school continues to post solid results in those subjects.
The concern for parents is the sharp decline seen in the 2025–2026 school year. The school's state ranking fell from 28th (88th percentile, 4 stars) to 89th (60th percentile, 3 stars). Algebra I proficiency dropped from 71.7% to 57.3%, leaving the school 8.7 points below the state average and 7.2 points below its own district. Biology and English II also fell, though they remain above state averages. With positive non-academic indicators like strong graduation and attendance, Brandon's school culture appears healthy, but the drop in test scores — especially in Algebra I — is a trend worth watching closely.
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