Summary:
ZIP code 39170, located in the Terry, Mississippi area, is served by a single middle school, Byram Middle School, which enrolls 785 students in grades 6 through 8 within the Hinds County School District.
As the only middle school in this area, Byram Middle School stands out for its exceptional Algebra I performance, with 96.1% of students scoring proficient on the MAAP End-of-Course exam—dramatically above the district's 50.9% and the state's 66.0%. The school also shines in student attendance, posting a chronic absenteeism rate of just 12.6%, roughly half the district and state averages. Despite a high poverty rate, with over 70% of students qualifying for free or reduced lunch, the school is on a strong upward trajectory, climbing from the 31st percentile to the 49th percentile in Mississippi's school rankings over a three-year period. Math proficiency is improving rapidly across all grade levels, with 8th grade math jumping from 37.6% to 47.1% in one year, and 7th grade math rising to 55.7%, now ahead of the district and nearly matching the state.
While mathematics is a clear strength, English Language Arts remains the school's biggest challenge. ELA proficiency trails the state in every grade, with 7th grade being the weakest at 31.1% proficient, improving just 0.3 points year over year. The school outperforms its district in 6th and 8th grade ELA, but still has significant ground to cover. For parents, the key takeaway is that Byram Middle School is an improving, attendance-focused school with standout algebra instruction and rapidly rising math scores, yet families should be aware that literacy support, particularly for 7th graders, will be an important area to watch. The combination of low chronic absenteeism and strong academic gains suggests a positive, stabilizing environment worth considering.
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