Best Middle Schools in Zip Code 39073

In zip code 39073, there is only one middle school — Florence Middle School — serving grades 6 through 8 with 556 students, and it has become one of Mississippi’s top-performing schools, moving from rank 38 to rank 19 in the state over three years and earning a 5-star rating. Florence Middle School sits inside the Rankin County School District, which is itself ranked 25th out of 134 districts, but this school consistently outpaces its already strong district across every tested subject. In the most recent 2025–2026 school year, Florence Middle School posted proficiency rates well above state averages in all subjects, including 98.6% proficiency in Algebra I, 81% in 8th grade science, and strong showings in math and English Language Arts at every grade level.

Parents should know that Florence Middle School’s biggest academic strength is its advanced math pathway. The Algebra I End of Course pass rate is nearly perfect, sitting 34 points above the district and 32 points above the state, which suggests a highly effective program for accelerated 8th graders. However, general 8th grade math proficiency is lower at 62.1%, still above the state but a clear contrast to the elite Algebra I results. Science is another standout area, with 8th grade science proficiency jumping 12.6 percentage points in one year to 81%. English Language Arts is the relative weak spot, though 7th and 8th grade ELA improved significantly, while 6th grade ELA dipped slightly. The school’s chronic absenteeism rate is 14.5% — well below the state’s 23.9% — and it maintains a favorable 12.3 student-teacher ratio, both of which likely support strong learning.

Florence Middle School also performs with a moderate poverty level, as 45.32% of students qualify for free or reduced lunch, yet the school still ranks in the top 10% of middle schools statewide. Its rapid rise in rankings — from 86th to 93rd percentile in just one year — points to recent instructional gains that are paying off. For parents considering this area, Florence Middle School offers a high-achieving, supportive environment with excellent math and science outcomes, improving test scores across the board, and a clear trajectory of success. The school’s only consistent challenge is maintaining ELA performance across all grade levels, but overall this is a school doing far better than most in Mississippi.