Best Middle Schools in Zip Code 39652

In zip code 39652, there are two middle-level schools—South Pike Junior High (grades 7–8) and Eva Gordon Upper Elementary School (grades 4–6)—both part of the South Pike School District in Magnolia, Mississippi, serving a high-poverty area where nearly all students qualify for free or reduced lunch.

These two schools tell very different stories. Eva Gordon Upper Elementary shows some real bright spots: its chronic absenteeism rate is just 12.7%, far better than the district’s 20.1% and the state’s 23.9%. It also posts near-state-average performance in 6th grade math (51.1% proficient vs. 52.7% statewide), and its 4th grade ELA improved dramatically from 30.5% to 45.3% in one year. However, Eva Gordon still trails state averages in most other subjects, and its scores swing widely between years—suggesting different cohorts have very different needs. South Pike Junior High, by contrast, is on a troubling downward slide. Its state ranking fell from the 50th percentile in 2023–24 to the 13th percentile in 2025–26, and it now ranks in the bottom of Mississippi middle schools. In 2025–26, only 22.9% of 7th graders and 22.4% of 8th graders were proficient in ELA, while 8th grade science proficiency was 34.0%—nearly 24 points behind the state. Across every subject and grade, South Pike is well below state averages, and its chronic absenteeism is 21.7%, much higher than Eva Gordon’s.

For parents, the key takeaway is that the two schools in this zip code are not equal. Even though both serve similarly high-poverty populations, Eva Gordon manages better attendance and some encouraging academic results, while South Pike appears to be declining quickly and needs immediate attention. The grade-span pipeline also matters: students who leave Eva Gordon at 6th grade tend to struggle more when they reach South Pike in 7th and 8th grade, suggesting achievement gaps may compound as students get older. If you’re choosing between these schools, Eva Gordon currently looks like the more stable option, but neither school is performing near state averages in most areas, so it’s worth understanding the specific challenges each campus faces.