Best Middle Schools in Zip Code 39203

Middle Schools in zip code 39203 consist of a single school, Blackburn Middle School, which serves grades 6 through 8 in the Jackson, MS area and is part of the Jackson Public Schools district. Because there is only this one middle school in the zip code, all information below focuses on Blackburn’s performance and the challenges and strengths that define the school.

Blackburn Middle School is a study in contrasts. Its most exceptional bright spot is the Algebra I end-of-course exam, where 91.6% of students scored proficient—far surpassing the district rate of 42.7% and the state rate of 66.0%. That result stands out because in every other tested subject, proficiency rates are dramatically lower than district and state averages. For example, 6th grade English Language Arts proficiency is 15.1% versus 48.0% statewide, and 8th grade math proficiency is 15.6% compared to 51.4% statewide. Chronic absenteeism is a serious concern: 57.6% of students were chronically absent in 2023-24, nearly twice the district rate and more than double the state rate. This likely contributes to the school’s consistently poor state ranking—257 out of 260 middle schools in Mississippi for the 2025-26 school year.

For parents, the picture is mixed but informative. Blackburn has a favorable student-teacher ratio of 7.3 to 1, yet outcomes remain low, largely due to the fact that nearly 100% of students qualify for free or reduced lunch and over half are chronically absent. The school has shown some year-over-year gains in 8th grade ELA, math, and science, though from very low starting points. The standout Algebra I success demonstrates that targeted instruction and high expectations can work. While Blackburn faces systemic challenges tied to poverty and attendance, its unusual strengths and pockets of improvement suggest that with the right support, broader gains are possible.