Summary:
Zip code 39479 in Mississippi is served by a single middle school, Seminary Middle, part of the Covington County School District, enrolling 365 students across grades 5–8. As the only middle school in the area, Seminary Middle carries the full educational weight of the community, and its performance tells a story of both notable strengths and clear challenges. The school holds a respectable 65th-percentile rank among Mississippi middle schools (90 out of 260) for 2025–2026, down slightly from its 70th-percentile showing the prior year. This places the school well above its district, which sits near the middle of the state's rankings at the 49th percentile.
Academically, Seminary Middle outperforms both district and state averages in most early-grade subjects. In 2025–2026, 5th-grade math proficiency reached 71.5% versus 49.6% statewide, and 5th-grade science hit an impressive 88.6%. However, a troubling pattern emerges by 8th grade: math proficiency plunges to 37.7% and ELA to 33.4%, both well below state averages. Year-over-year math results are also highly volatile, with 5th-grade math improving by 17.1 points while 8th-grade math fell 18.3 points, suggesting cohort effects or inconsistent curriculum alignment. The school serves a highly economically disadvantaged population — 99.18% of students qualify for free or reduced lunch — yet still posts strong early-grade results. Chronic absenteeism is a significant concern at 36.0%, well above the state's 23.9%, and may contribute to the upper-grade declines.
On a positive note, science is a consistent strength, with the school exceeding state averages in every tested grade and year. A favorable student-teacher ratio of 12.9 also suggests students receive relatively personalized attention. The key takeaways are that Seminary Middle provides a strong foundation in the earlier middle-school years, particularly in math and science, but families should be aware of the notable drop-off in 8th-grade performance and the high absenteeism rate. While the school's 3-star rating and mid-tier ranking are respectable, addressing attendance and stabilizing upper-grade math and ELA outcomes would likely yield meaningful gains for this already resilient school.
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