Summary:
Zip code 39555 contains one middle school, East Central Middle School, a 5-star school in Moss Point, Mississippi serving grades 6 through 8 with 541 students. The school is part of the Jackson County School District, ranked #2 out of 134 districts in Mississippi. East Central Middle School is ranked #12 out of 260 Mississippi middle schools for the 2025-2026 school year, placing it in the 95th percentile. The school has improved its ranking consistently over three consecutive years, moving from #21 to #17 to #12.
Math is the school's clear strength. Across 6th, 7th, and 8th grades, the average math proficiency is 75.8%, compared to the state average of 53.9%. Eighth grade math is particularly strong at 79.6% proficient—roughly 28 points above the state. Science performance also improved dramatically, jumping from 66.6% to 80.3% proficiency in one year, now well above both district and state averages. English Language Arts is the relative weak spot, though still above state averages across all grades. The biggest concern is 7th grade ELA, which dropped from 59.2% to 49.8%, falling slightly below the district average of 51.0% but remaining more than 13 points above the state.
Overall, the school outperforms both its district and the state. The average proficiency across all subjects and grade levels is 68.4%, compared to 63.8% for the district and 49.3% for the state. This strong performance comes despite demographic challenges: 53% of students qualify for free or reduced lunch, and chronic absenteeism is 22.7%, slightly above the district but below the state. With a favorable 14:1 student-teacher ratio, a top-5% statewide ranking, and strong math and science scores, East Central Middle School is clearly a standout option in this area. The main area to watch is 7th grade ELA, but the overall picture is highly positive for families considering schools in zip code 39555.
Thank you for your feedback!