Best Middle Schools in Zip Code 39305

In zip code 39305 (Meridian, MS), there are two public middle schools—Northeast Middle School (serving grades 5–8) and Magnolia Middle School (serving grades 6–8)—that sit in different districts and show sharply different academic profiles. Northeast is the standout positive performer, with a 3-star rating and steady improvement in state rank over three years, while Magnolia is the higher-need school, with a 0-star rating and universal poverty. Northeast belongs to the high-performing Lauderdale County School District, ranked 18th out of 134 districts (87th percentile), while Magnolia belongs to the Meridian Public Schools, ranked 120th (10th percentile).

Academically, Northeast posts proficiency rates well above Magnolia in every common grade and subject tested. For example, 8th-grade math proficiency is 54.3% at Northeast versus 24.8% at Magnolia, and 8th-grade science is 60.3% versus 34.2%. Magnolia falls below the Mississippi state average in every single subject and grade, with only 19.8% of 7th graders proficient in ELA and 21.1% in 6th-grade math. Chronic absenteeism is a severe issue at both schools, affecting 34.2% of students at Northeast and 39.9% at Magnolia—far above the state average of 23.9%. Poverty also differs, with 100% of Magnolia students eligible for free/reduced-price lunch versus 71.5% at Northeast.

Northeast is the better school, but it still lags its own district average in every subject, indicating room for growth. Its math program is a clear strength in upper grades, with 8th-grade math exceeding the state average. Magnolia’s math scores swing sharply by cohort, suggesting instability rather than steady progress. Both schools have similar student-teacher ratios (11.9 at Northeast, 12.9 at Magnolia), so staffing levels do not explain the achievement gap. The data reveals a concentrated educational divide within the same community, with poverty and district context playing clear, though not absolute, roles in student success.