Public + private high schools, every state.
403
high schools (public + private)
323
public (131 districts)
80
private (NCES PSS)
18,147
public grade‑12 students (seniors, latest year)

MS public HS enrollment trend

Across the 74,558 students enrolled in MS brick-and-mortar public high schools in 2021, the state grew +2.1% by 2024 (76,133 students, +1,575 net). That's the demographic tide every individual school is fighting or riding.

Charter share of public HS enrollment (latest year): 0.0% (0 of 76,133 students). Virtual / nonclassroom-based schools excluded.

🗺️ State context · NAEP 2024

How does MS compare nationally?

The National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) is the only test given the same way to students in every state — making it the benchmark for state-to-state academic comparison. Below, this state's 8th-grade averages and where it sits on the 50-state distribution.

8th-grade math
268
-5 vs national avg (273)
8th-grade reading
254
-6 vs national avg (260)
national avg MS Math → Reading → 260 290 245 275

Each dot is one state's 2024 NAEP 8th-grade averages. MS is highlighted in gold. Dashed lines mark national averages — being upper-right of both = above national in both subjects. Source: NAEP State Snapshot Reports. NAEP doesn't produce per-school scores — this is state-level context.

Where the students are

Top 10 cities by public-HS enrollment

Gulfport 4 HS 4,405
Madison 2 HS 2,671
Jackson 4 HS 2,451
Oxford 2 HS 2,190
Tupelo 1 HS 2,123
Brandon 2 HS 1,922
Flowood 1 HS 1,855
Biloxi 1 HS 1,478
Starkville 1 HS 1,376
Horn Lake 1 HS 1,271

School-size distribution

Public, classroom-based · grades 9–12, latest year

Fastest-growing high schools
public, classroom-based · grade 9–12 · 2021→2024
Canton High School
Canton Public Schools
525→884 +68.4%
Starkville High School
Starkville Oktibbeha Consolidated School District
1,085→1,376 +26.8%
Natchez High School
Natchez-Adams School District
481→606 +26.0%
Bay Springs High School
West Jasper School District
196→241 +23.0%
West Tallahatchie High School
West Tallahatchie School District
163→200 +22.7%
Leland High School
Leland School District
165→200 +21.2%
Jefferson County High
Jefferson County School District
277→331 +19.5%
O'Bannon High School
Western Line Schools
247→294 +19.0%
Lanier Junior/Senior High School
Jackson Public Schools
556→656 +18.0%
Baldwyn High School
Baldwyn School District
198→231 +16.7%
Fastest-shrinking high schools
public, classroom-based · grade 9–12 · 2021→2024
Wilkinson County High School
Wilkinson County School District
284→228 -19.7%
Pine Grove High School
South Tippah School District
193→157 -18.7%
Clarkdale High School
Lauderdale County School District
322→274 -14.9%
Water Valley High School
Water Valley School District
295→252 -14.6%
Riverside High School
Western Line Schools
234→203 -13.2%
Yazoo County High School
Yazoo County School District
460→400 -13.0%
Holmes County Central High School
Holmes County Consolidated
815→714 -12.4%
Hatley School
Monroe County School District
318→282 -11.3%
Perry Central High School
Perry County School District
294→262 -10.9%
Yazoo City High School
MS Achievement SD Of Yazoo City
595→531 -10.8%

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