Summary:
Zip code 39462 covers the small town of New Augusta, Mississippi, and contains exactly two public schools operated by the Perry County School District: Perry Central High School (grades 9-12, 262 students) and Perry Central Middle School (grades 6-8, 178 students). The district itself ranks 78th out of 134 districts in Mississippi (42nd percentile), and both schools serve a student population with more than 80% of students eligible for free/reduced lunch.
Perry Central Middle School is the clear standout in this area. It currently ranks 112th out of 260 Mississippi middle schools (57th percentile, 3 stars), while Perry Central High School ranks 118th out of 224 (47th percentile, 2 stars). The middle school outperforms state averages in 7th grade math (71.2% proficient vs. 57.7% statewide) and 8th grade science (67.3% vs. 57.8%), and it has a lower chronic absenteeism rate (20.1%) than both the district (22.9%) and state (23.9%). It also jumped from the 33rd to the 66th percentile between 2023-2024 and 2024-2025, showing dramatic improvement. In contrast, the high school's chronic absenteeism rate is 27.5%, well above state averages.
The biggest concern is Perry Central High School's graduation rate of 78.8%, more than 10 points below the state average of 89.2%. While the high school shows some bright spots—Algebra I proficiency (67.2%) now exceeds the state average, and English II improved from 35.5% to 47.5% in one year—it still lags in Biology (47.2% vs. 63.1% statewide). The middle school's success in math and science, combined with better attendance, suggests that students arrive at the high school well-prepared, but some of that advantage is lost during the high school years. Addressing chronic absenteeism at the high school could be the most effective lever for improvement. Overall, Perry Central Middle School offers a model of success the district could replicate to raise its standing.
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