Summary:
Zip code 39466 contains only one middle school, Picayune Junior High School, serving grades 7–8 in Picayune, Mississippi, with 465 students. The school consistently earns a 2-star rating and ranks near the middle of Mississippi middle schools (47th percentile in the most recent year), but it has a clear bright spot: 8th grade science is the only tested subject above the state average, improving from 54.0% to 59.5% proficiency year-over-year.
In English language arts, the school trails the state in both grades. 7th grade improved from 26.3% to 30.8%, but still sits nearly 6 points behind the state, while 8th grade declined from 36.7% to 34.2%, widening the gap. Math results are mixed: 7th grade math dipped from 53.7% to 50.0%, yet remains the school's second-strongest subject; 8th grade math jumped from 35.8% to 41.5%, though it still lags the state by about 10 points. Overall, math proficiency is much stronger than ELA proficiency, which is an unusual pattern worth noting.
Chronic absenteeism is a major concern, with 33.0% of students chronically absent—well above the state rate of 23.9% and the district rate of 30.2%. With 69% of students receiving free or reduced lunch, the school serves a predominantly low-income population. Interestingly, the Picayune School District earns 3 stars and ranks in the 63rd percentile, while the school itself sits near the middle, suggesting other district schools are pulling the district rating upward. Encouragingly, the school improved in three of five tested areas (7th ELA, 8th math, 8th science), while 8th ELA and 7th math declined—a trajectory worth watching as the school works to raise its overall standing.
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