State district guide

Mississippi public school districts

Compare district systems across Mississippi by enrollment scale, school count, county context, generated guide coverage, and the parent checks that matter before choosing where to live.

View county rankings Find a school

Direct answer for parents

What this district ranking can and cannot tell you

If you are searching for the best school districts in Mississippi, start with the largest and most data-rich district systems below, then verify the specific school assigned to each address. SchoolsByCounty orders districts by reported enrollment and school count because those fields are consistent in NCES. It does not convert district size into a quality rating.

Start with scale

DESOTO CO SCHOOL DIST

35,003 reported students

Check county context

Quitman County

64/100 county score

Verify locally

Address fit

Attendance boundaries and transfers are not in NCES

District table

Largest public school districts in Mississippi

The first 60 rows show the largest district systems by reported enrollment. Open district guides where available, or use the county profile when a detailed district page is not generated yet.

152 districts in state file

Mississippi public school districts ranked by reported enrollment.
Rank	District	County context	Students	Schools	Parent lens
1	DESOTO CO SCHOOL DIST LEA ID 2801320 DeSoto County42 schools	DeSoto County 34/100 county score	35,003	42	Elementary, middle, and high school records No charter, magnet, or virtual flags reported Open district guide
2	RANKIN CO SCHOOL DIST LEA ID 2803830 Rankin County28 schools	Rankin County 46/100 county score	18,720	28	Elementary, middle, and high school records No charter, magnet, or virtual flags reported Open district guide
3	JACKSON PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT LEA ID 2802190 Hinds County54 schools	Hinds County 14/100 county score	18,710	54	Elementary, middle, and high school records No charter, magnet, or virtual flags reported Open district guide
4	HARRISON CO SCHOOL DIST LEA ID 2801770 Harrison County24 schools	Harrison County 31/100 county score	14,355	24	Elementary, middle, and high school records No charter, magnet, or virtual flags reported Open district guide
5	MADISON CO SCHOOL DIST LEA ID 2802790 Madison County23 schools	Madison County 32/100 county score	13,162	23	Elementary, middle, and high school records No charter, magnet, or virtual flags reported Open district guide
6	LAMAR COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT LEA ID 2802400 Lamar County17 schools	Lamar County 42/100 county score	10,276	17	Elementary, middle, and high school records No charter, magnet, or virtual flags reported Open district guide
7	JACKSON CO SCHOOL DIST LEA ID 2802160 Jackson County14 schools	Jackson County 34/100 county score	8,906	14	Elementary, middle, and high school records No charter, magnet, or virtual flags reported Open district guide
8	JONES CO SCHOOL DIST LEA ID 2802280 Jones County11 schools	Jones County 24/100 county score	8,524	11	elementary, high school records No charter, magnet, or virtual flags reported Open district guide
9	TUPELO PUBLIC SCHOOL DIST LEA ID 2804320 Lee County14 schools	Lee County 27/100 county score	7,132	14	Elementary, middle, and high school records No charter, magnet, or virtual flags reported Open district guide
10	VICKSBURG WARREN SCHOOL DIST LEA ID 2804470 Warren County16 schools	Warren County 25/100 county score	6,862	16	Elementary, middle, and high school records No charter, magnet, or virtual flags reported Open district guide
11	PASCAGOULA-GAUTIER SCHOOL DISTRICT LEA ID 2803480 Jackson County19 schools	Jackson County 34/100 county score	6,565	19	Elementary, middle, and high school records No charter, magnet, or virtual flags reported Open district guide
12	LEE COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT LEA ID 2802550 Lee County15 schools	Lee County 27/100 county score	6,303	15	Elementary, middle, and high school records No charter, magnet, or virtual flags reported Open district guide
13	GULFPORT SCHOOL DIST LEA ID 2801710 Harrison County11 schools	Harrison County 31/100 county score	6,113	11	Elementary, middle, and high school records No charter, magnet, or virtual flags reported Open district guide
14	LAUDERDALE CO SCHOOL DIST LEA ID 2802430 Lauderdale County11 schools	Lauderdale County 22/100 county score	5,910	11	Elementary, middle, and high school records No charter, magnet, or virtual flags reported Open district guide
15	OCEAN SPRINGS SCHOOL DIST LEA ID 2803360 Jackson County7 schools	Jackson County 34/100 county score	5,861	7	Elementary, middle, and high school records No charter, magnet, or virtual flags reported Open district guide
16	BILOXI PUBLIC SCHOOL DIST LEA ID 2800630 Harrison County10 schools	Harrison County 31/100 county score	5,812	10	Elementary, middle, and high school records No charter, magnet, or virtual flags reported Open district guide
17	LOWNDES CO SCHOOL DIST LEA ID 2802730 Lowndes County10 schools	Lowndes County 25/100 county score	5,261	10	Elementary, middle, and high school records No charter, magnet, or virtual flags reported Open district guide
18	CLINTON PUBLIC SCHOOL DIST LEA ID 2801090 Hinds County9 schools	Hinds County 14/100 county score	5,211	9	Elementary, middle, and high school records No charter, magnet, or virtual flags reported Open district guide
19	HINDS CO SCHOOL DIST LEA ID 2801860 Hinds County11 schools	Hinds County 14/100 county score	4,968	11	Elementary, middle, and high school records No charter, magnet, or virtual flags reported Open district guide
20	STARKVILLE- OKTIBBEHA CONS DIST LEA ID 2800189 Oktibbeha County9 schools	Oktibbeha County 17/100 county score	4,894	9	Elementary, middle, and high school records No charter, magnet, or virtual flags reported Open district guide
21	OXFORD SCHOOL DISTRICT LEA ID 2803450 Lafayette County7 schools	Lafayette County 39/100 county score	4,766	7	Elementary, middle, and high school records No charter, magnet, or virtual flags reported Open district guide
22	MERIDIAN PUBLIC SCHOOLS LEA ID 2802910 Lauderdale County11 schools	Lauderdale County 22/100 county score	4,614	11	Elementary, middle, and high school records No charter, magnet, or virtual flags reported Open district guide
23	PETAL SCHOOL DIST LEA ID 2803530 Forrest County5 schools	Forrest County 28/100 county score	4,392	5	Elementary, middle, and high school records No charter, magnet, or virtual flags reported Open district guide
24	SOUTH PANOLA SCHOOL DISTRICT LEA ID 2804050 Panola County6 schools	Panola County 14/100 county score	4,313	6	Elementary, middle, and high school records No charter, magnet, or virtual flags reported Open district guide
25	PEARL PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT LEA ID 2803520 Rankin County5 schools	Rankin County 46/100 county score	4,216	5	Elementary, middle, and high school records No charter, magnet, or virtual flags reported Open district guide
26	GEORGE CO SCHOOL DIST LEA ID 2801560 George County9 schools	George County 42/100 county score	4,165	9	Elementary, middle, and high school records No charter, magnet, or virtual flags reported Open district guide
27	HANCOCK CO SCHOOL DIST LEA ID 2801740 Hancock County7 schools	Hancock County 31/100 county score	4,060	7	Elementary, middle, and high school records No charter, magnet, or virtual flags reported Open district guide
28	GREENWOOD-LEFLORE CONS SCH DISTRICT LEA ID 2800198 Leflore County15 schools	Leflore County 4/100 county score	4,030	15	Elementary, middle, and high school records No charter, magnet, or virtual flags reported Open district guide
29	SCOTT CO SCHOOL DIST LEA ID 2803900 Scott County9 schools	Scott County 10/100 county score	3,989	9	Elementary, middle, and high school records No charter, magnet, or virtual flags reported Open district guide
30	GRENADA SCHOOL DIST LEA ID 2801680 Grenada County5 schools	Grenada County 6/100 county score	3,864	5	Elementary, middle, and high school records No charter, magnet, or virtual flags reported Open district guide
31	HATTIESBURG PUBLIC SCHOOL DIST LEA ID 2801800 Forrest County9 schools	Forrest County 28/100 county score	3,667	9	Elementary, middle, and high school records No charter, magnet, or virtual flags reported Open district guide
32	GREENVILLE PUBLIC SCHOOLS LEA ID 2801620 Washington County13 schools	Washington County 13/100 county score	3,542	13	Elementary, middle, and high school records No charter, magnet, or virtual flags reported Open district guide
33	PONTOTOC CO SCHOOL DIST LEA ID 2803660 Pontotoc County9 schools	Pontotoc County 22/100 county score	3,466	9	Elementary, middle, and high school records No charter, magnet, or virtual flags reported Open district guide
34	PICAYUNE SCHOOL DISTRICT LEA ID 2803630 Pearl River County11 schools	Pearl River County 31/100 county score	3,431	11	Elementary, middle, and high school records No charter, magnet, or virtual flags reported Open district guide
35	ITAWAMBA COUNTY SCHOOL DIST LEA ID 2802100 Itawamba County8 schools	Itawamba County 22/100 county score	3,375	8	elementary, high school records No charter, magnet, or virtual flags reported Open district guide
36	PEARL RIVER CO SCHOOL DIST LEA ID 2803540 Pearl River County4 schools	Pearl River County 31/100 county score	3,284	4	Elementary, middle, and high school records No charter, magnet, or virtual flags reported Detailed guide not generated yet
37	ALCORN SCHOOL DIST LEA ID 2800390 Alcorn County10 schools	Alcorn County 37/100 county score	3,188	10	Elementary, middle, and high school records No charter, magnet, or virtual flags reported Detailed guide not generated yet
38	CANTON PUBLIC SCHOOL DIST LEA ID 2800900 Madison County10 schools	Madison County 32/100 county score	3,166	10	Elementary, middle, and high school records No charter, magnet, or virtual flags reported Detailed guide not generated yet
39	COLUMBUS MUNICIPAL SCHOOL DIST LEA ID 2801200 Lowndes County9 schools	Lowndes County 25/100 county score	3,090	9	Elementary, middle, and high school records No charter, magnet, or virtual flags reported Detailed guide not generated yet
40	NESHOBA COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT LEA ID 2803060 Neshoba County3 schools	Neshoba County 9/100 county score	3,038	3	Elementary, middle, and high school records No charter, magnet, or virtual flags reported Detailed guide not generated yet
41	SIMPSON CO SCHOOL DIST LEA ID 2803990 Simpson County9 schools	Simpson County 16/100 county score	3,008	9	Elementary, middle, and high school records No charter, magnet, or virtual flags reported Detailed guide not generated yet
42	UNION CO SCHOOL DIST LEA ID 2804350 Union County4 schools	Union County 15/100 county score	2,980	4	Limited grade-level records No charter, magnet, or virtual flags reported Detailed guide not generated yet
43	SUNFLOWER CTY CONS SCHOOL DISTRICT LEA ID 2800187 Sunflower County13 schools	Sunflower County 7/100 county score	2,929	13	Elementary, middle, and high school records No charter, magnet, or virtual flags reported Detailed guide not generated yet
44	LONG BEACH SCHOOL DIST LEA ID 2802670 Harrison County5 schools	Harrison County 31/100 county score	2,929	5	Elementary, middle, and high school records No charter, magnet, or virtual flags reported Detailed guide not generated yet
45	WAYNE CO SCHOOL DIST LEA ID 2804530 Wayne County8 schools	Wayne County 23/100 county score	2,900	8	elementary, high school records No charter, magnet, or virtual flags reported Detailed guide not generated yet
46	TISHOMINGO CO SP MUN SCH DIST LEA ID 2804260 Tishomingo County8 schools	Tishomingo County 30/100 county score	2,897	8	Elementary, middle, and high school records No charter, magnet, or virtual flags reported Detailed guide not generated yet
47	LAFAYETTE CO SCHOOL DIST LEA ID 2802370 Lafayette County5 schools	Lafayette County 39/100 county score	2,872	5	Elementary, middle, and high school records No charter, magnet, or virtual flags reported Detailed guide not generated yet
48	NATCHEZ-ADAMS SCHOOL DISTRICT LEA ID 2803030 Adams County8 schools	Adams County 38/100 county score	2,842	8	Elementary, middle, and high school records No charter, magnet, or virtual flags reported Detailed guide not generated yet
49	CLEVELAND SCHOOL DIST LEA ID 2800750 Bolivar County10 schools	Bolivar County 15/100 county score	2,818	10	Elementary, middle, and high school records No charter, magnet, or virtual flags reported Detailed guide not generated yet
50	LINCOLN COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT LEA ID 2802640 Lincoln County4 schools	Lincoln County 23/100 county score	2,795	4	Limited grade-level records No charter, magnet, or virtual flags reported Detailed guide not generated yet
51	MARSHALL CO SCHOOL DIST LEA ID 2802850 Marshall County10 schools	Marshall County 20/100 county score	2,777	10	Elementary, middle, and high school records No charter, magnet, or virtual flags reported Detailed guide not generated yet
52	LAUREL SCHOOL DISTRICT LEA ID 2802460 Jones County8 schools	Jones County 24/100 county score	2,712	8	Elementary, middle, and high school records No charter, magnet, or virtual flags reported Detailed guide not generated yet
53	COVINGTON COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT LEA ID 2801290 Covington County10 schools	Covington County 21/100 county score	2,609	10	Elementary, middle, and high school records No charter, magnet, or virtual flags reported Detailed guide not generated yet
54	WEST POINT CONSOLIDATED SCHOOL DIST LEA ID 2800191 Clay County8 schools	Clay County 20/100 county score	2,609	8	Elementary, middle, and high school records No charter, magnet, or virtual flags reported Detailed guide not generated yet
55	BROOKHAVEN SCHOOL DIST LEA ID 2800840 Lincoln County7 schools	Lincoln County 23/100 county score	2,586	7	Elementary, middle, and high school records No charter, magnet, or virtual flags reported Detailed guide not generated yet
56	HOLMES COUNTY CONSOLIDATED SD LEA ID 2800195 Holmes County9 schools	Holmes County 50/100 county score	2,544	9	Elementary, middle, and high school records No charter, magnet, or virtual flags reported Detailed guide not generated yet
57	LEAKE CO SCHOOL DIST LEA ID 2802520 Leake County6 schools	Leake County 18/100 county score	2,532	6	Elementary, middle, and high school records No charter, magnet, or virtual flags reported Detailed guide not generated yet
58	LOUISVILLE MUNICIPAL SCHOOL DIST LEA ID 2802700 Winston County7 schools	Winston County 39/100 county score	2,523	7	Elementary, middle, and high school records No charter, magnet, or virtual flags reported Detailed guide not generated yet
59	STONE CO SCHOOL DIST LEA ID 2804170 Stone County4 schools	Stone County 20/100 county score	2,518	4	Elementary, middle, and high school records No charter, magnet, or virtual flags reported Detailed guide not generated yet
60	CORINTH SCHOOL DIST LEA ID 2801260 Alcorn County3 schools	Alcorn County 37/100 county score	2,490	3	Elementary, middle, and high school records No charter, magnet, or virtual flags reported Detailed guide not generated yet

— = enrollment not reported in the district record. District rows are informational and must be paired with local assignment tools before a housing decision.

Methodology

How to use district rankings without overreading them

District-level data is useful because it shows the operating system around a public school search: how many schools exist, which county record anchors the district, how much enrollment is reported, and whether a detailed district guide is available. It is not enough to decide where a student should enroll.

Ranking basis

Rows are ordered by reported enrollment, then school count. The method favors broad, data-rich systems because those are the districts parents most often need to research before relocation.

County context

Each district is attached to a primary county record when available. County school scores are context signals, not district ratings, and nearby counties can still matter for commute and housing decisions.

Grade pathway

Elementary, middle, and high school counts help parents spot whether a district looks like a full K-12 pathway or a narrower operating unit. Feeder patterns still require local verification.

Address verification

The final decision happens at the address level. Confirm attendance zones, open-enrollment rules, magnet admissions, charter lotteries, and transfer windows with official district sources.

County context

Districts anchored in higher-scoring county contexts

These rows pair district records with the county-level SchoolsByCounty score. Treat this as a shortlist for deeper research, not a district quality ranking.

QUITMAN CO SCHOOL DIST

Quitman County

Students: 852
Schools: 4

SOUTH DELTA SCHOOL DISTRICT

Sharkey County

Students: 604
Schools: 4

WINONA-MONTGOMERY CONSOLIDATED

Montgomery County

Students: 1,144
Schools: 3

CHOCTAW CO SCHOOL DIST

Choctaw County

Students: 1,230
Schools: 5

HOLMES COUNTY CONSOLIDATED SD

Holmes County

Students: 2,544
Schools: 9

RANKIN CO SCHOOL DIST

Rankin County

Students: 18,720
Schools: 28

Open district guide

Parent checklist before relying on a district ranking

Use this page to narrow the field, then answer these local questions before treating any district as a fit for a specific home.

Which school does this address actually feed into?

Use the district address lookup and confirm edge cases near attendance-zone borders.

What happens at transition grades?

A strong elementary fit can split into several middle or high school paths.

Are choice programs realistic for this student?

Magnet, charter, virtual, and transfer options can involve lotteries, applications, or deadlines.

Is the county context aligned with housing tradeoffs?

Pair school research with taxes, commute, home prices, and safety before choosing where to live.

Frequently Asked Questions About Mississippi School Districts

What are the best school districts in Mississippi?

DESOTO CO SCHOOL DIST, RANKIN CO SCHOOL DIST, JACKSON PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT are the largest Mississippi district systems by reported enrollment in the NCES file. SchoolsByCounty does not call them the best districts; use this page to find data-rich district systems, then verify assigned schools, program rules, and local fit.

How are Mississippi districts ranked here?

Districts are ordered by reported student enrollment, then school count, using NCES public school district records. This is a research-priority ranking, not a quality rating.

Why do only 35 Mississippi districts have district guide links?

SchoolsByCounty statically generates detailed district guides for the largest district systems nationally so the pages stay fast and substantive. Districts without guide links remain represented through county and state context pages.

Do these district pages show attendance boundaries?

No. Attendance zones, transfer rules, magnet eligibility, charter admission, transportation, and program availability must be verified with official district or local assignment tools before choosing a home.

Does a large district mean better schools?

No. Larger districts usually have more school options and more public data, but enrollment size is not a school-quality measure. Compare school-level records and official local sources before treating a district as a fit.

How many districts are included for Mississippi?

This page includes 152 Mississippi public school districts from the current NCES district file, alongside county context and generated district-guide availability where available.

By Evan Brooks, Data EditorPublished Jun 9, 2026

Data Sources

Education data sourced from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) Common Core of Data and School District Finance Survey. School scores are derived composite metrics based on available NCES graduation-rate and school-finance signals.

Data is informational only. Coverage varies by county and reporting year. Not for use as the sole basis for educational decisions.

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