Summary:
Zip code 39705 in Columbus, Mississippi, contains a single middle school, Columbus Middle School, which serves grades 6 through 8 and enrolls 597 students. The school is part of the Columbus Municipal School District, and it is an almost universally low-income school, with 99.66% of students qualifying for free or reduced lunch—making economic disadvantage a defining characteristic of the student body.
Academically, Columbus Middle School faces significant challenges, though recent trends point to improvement. In 2025–2026, the school ranked 227 out of 260 Mississippi middle schools (13th percentile, earning 1 star), a step up from 244 out of 266 (8th percentile, 0 stars) in 2024–2025 and 240 out of 264 in 2023–2024. The district itself ranks 122 out of 134 districts with 0 stars. Proficiency rates remain well below state averages in every subject, with the largest gaps in mathematics—notably a 26.9-point deficit in 7th grade math and an 18.7-point deficit in 8th grade math in the most recent year. Chronic absenteeism is also a serious concern, with 31.2% of students chronically absent versus 23.9% statewide, meaning roughly one in three students misses substantial school time.
On the positive side, the school is showing clear year-over-year gains. From 2024–2025 to 2025–2026, every comparable grade and subject improved, including an 8th grade science gain of 9.4 points, 8th grade math up 8.9 points, and 7th grade ELA up 7.6 points. The student-teacher ratio is a favorable 11.6, suggesting a relatively low class size that could support future gains. For parents, this is a high-poverty school with test scores far below state averages, but it is also one demonstrating measurable progress, an improving state ranking, and its first star. With only one middle school in the area, Columbus Middle School is the sole option for most families, and its trajectory is worth watching closely.
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