What share of students in Mississippi are proficient in math?

In 2024, 22% of eighth graders in Mississippi public schools were at or above NAEP Proficient in mathematics (12th lowest among the 50 states and DC) and 23% in reading, compared with 24% and 25% in 2019 (national public 2024: 27% and 29%).

Education in Mississippi, United States: official figures

88.9% of public high school students in Mississippi graduated within four years of starting ninth grade in the 2021-22 school year (the adjusted cohort graduation rate); joint 11th highest among the 49 states (including DC) with data (U.S.: 86.6%).

High school graduation rate (4-year ACGR)

88.9%

2021-22

NAEP fourth-grade reading score

219

2024

NAEP eighth-grade mathematics score

269

2024

Current spending per pupil, public schools

$12,324

FY2024

Public school enrollment

436,523

Fall 2023

Adults 25+ with a bachelor's degree or higher

27.0%

2024

Is the graduation rate in Mississippi rising?

The four-year graduation rate in Mississippi was 88.9% in 2021-22, compared with 75% in 2011-12 and 85.0% in 2018-19, before the pandemic; nationally the rate went from 80% in 2011-12 to 86.6% in 2021-22.

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education) · saved copy

What is the graduation rate for disadvantaged students in Mississippi?

In 2021-22 the four-year graduation rate in Mississippi was 90.3% for economically disadvantaged students, 67.1% for students with disabilities and 67.0% for English learners (U.S.: 81.3%, 71.4%, 72.1% respectively).

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education) · saved copy

What is the graduation rate by race in Mississippi?

By race and ethnicity, the 2021-22 graduation rate in Mississippi was 87.9% for Black, 85.0% for Hispanic and 90.3% for White students (U.S.: 81.0%, 82.8%, 89.8%).

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education) · saved copy

How do students in Mississippi score in grade 4 reading?

Public school students in Mississippi averaged 219 in fourth-grade reading on the 2024 National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), joint 7th highest among the 50 states and DC, the same as 219 in 2019 (national public: 214, 219 in 2019). 32% scored at or above Proficient and 35% below Basic.

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education) · saved copy

How do students in Mississippi score in grade 8 reading?

Public school students in Mississippi averaged 253 in eighth-grade reading on the 2024 National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), joint 11th lowest among the 50 states and DC, down from 256 in 2019 (national public: 257, 262 in 2019). 23% scored at or above Proficient and 36% below Basic.

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education) · saved copy

How do students in Mississippi score in grade 4 math?

Public school students in Mississippi averaged 239 in fourth-grade mathematics on the 2024 National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), joint 13th highest among the 50 states and DC, down from 241 in 2019 (national public: 237, 240 in 2019). 38% scored at or above Proficient and 19% below Basic.

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education) · saved copy

How do students in Mississippi score in grade 8 math?

Public school students in Mississippi averaged 269 in eighth-grade mathematics on the 2024 National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), joint 18th lowest among the 50 states and DC, down from 274 in 2019 (national public: 272, 281 in 2019). 22% scored at or above Proficient and 43% below Basic.

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education) · saved copy

How much does Mississippi spend per student?

Public school systems in Mississippi spent $12,324 per pupil on current operations in fiscal year 2024, 5th lowest among the 50 states and DC (U.S.: $17,619), according to the Census Bureau's Annual Survey of School System Finances.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Is school spending per pupil in Mississippi going up?

Current spending per pupil in Mississippi rose from $9,284 in fiscal 2019 to $12,324 in fiscal 2024, up 32.7% before inflation (U.S.: up 33.6%); the change on fiscal 2023 was up 1.9%.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

What does Mississippi spend school money on?

Of the $12,324 spent per pupil in Mississippi in fiscal 2024, $6,937 went on instruction and $4,661 on support services; salaries and wages came to $6,981 per pupil and employee benefits $2,458.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Where does school funding in Mississippi come from?

Public school systems in Mississippi received $6.6 billion in revenue in fiscal 2024: 22.7% from the federal government, 44.8% from the state and 32.5% from local sources such as property taxes (U.S.: 11.6%, 45.2% and 43.2%).

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How much does Mississippi spend on public schools in total?

Total spending by public school systems in Mississippi was $6.4 billion in fiscal 2024, of which $5.4 billion was current spending and $951.19 million capital outlay on buildings and equipment; the systems owed $1.9 billion in debt at the end of the year.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How many students are in public schools in Mississippi?

436,523 pupils were enrolled in public elementary and secondary schools in Mississippi in fall 2023, down 6.3% on fall 2019 (466,002) and down 11.4% on fall 2013; nationally enrollment was down 2.5% since 2019.

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education) · saved copy

What is the student-teacher ratio in Mississippi?

Public schools in Mississippi had 33,768 full-time-equivalent teachers in fall 2022, about 13.0 pupils per teacher, 15th fewest among the 50 states and DC (U.S.: 15.4; Mississippi in fall 2019: 14.8).

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education) · saved copy

What percentage of people in Mississippi have a college degree?

27.0% of adults aged 25 and over in Mississippi, about 536,000 people, held a bachelor's degree or higher in 2024; 2nd lowest among the 50 states and DC (U.S.: 36.8%). That is up 2.2 percentage points on 2021 (24.8%), according to the American Community Survey.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How many people in Mississippi have a graduate degree?

In 2024, 10.7% of adults 25 and over in Mississippi had a graduate or professional degree and 11.8% an associate degree as their highest qualification (U.S.: 14.7% and 8.8%).

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How many adults in Mississippi did not finish high school?

88.0% of adults 25 and over in Mississippi had at least a high school diploma or equivalent in 2024, leaving 12.0% without one; that share is joint 5th highest among the 50 states and DC (U.S.: 10.1%).

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How Mississippi compares with other states

Public high school 4-year graduation rate (ACGR) (2021-22)

Mississippi ranks 12 of 49, highest first. Adjusted cohort graduation rate; New Mexico and Oklahoma did not report for 2021-22

Rank	Region	Public high school 4-year graduation rate (ACGR)
9	Virginia	89.1%
10	Kansas	89.1%
11	Connecticut	88.9%
12	Mississippi	88.9%
13	Alabama	88.2%
14	Utah	88.2%
15	Arkansas	88.2%

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education) · saved copy

Graduation rate of economically disadvantaged students (2021-22)

Mississippi ranks 1 of 48, highest first. Adjusted cohort graduation rate

Rank	Region	Graduation rate of economically disadvantaged students
1	Mississippi	90.3%
2	Kentucky	88.4%
3	Texas	86.4%
4	Arkansas	85.4%
5	West Virginia	85.3%
6	Indiana	85.2%
7	California	84.6%

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education) · saved copy

NAEP fourth-grade reading, average score (2024)

Mississippi ranks 9 of 51, highest first. Public school students; scale 0-500

Rank	Region	NAEP fourth-grade reading, average score
6	Indiana	220
7	Connecticut	219
8	Utah	219
9	Mississippi	219
10	Florida	218
11	Kentucky	218
12	Montana	217

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education) · saved copy

NAEP eighth-grade reading, average score (2024)

Mississippi ranks 43 of 51, highest first. Public school students; scale 0-500

Rank	Region	NAEP eighth-grade reading, average score
40	South Carolina	254
41	Florida	253
42	Nevada	253
43	Mississippi	253
44	Texas	252
45	District of Columbia	251
46	Alabama	250

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education) · saved copy

NAEP fourth-grade mathematics, average score (2024)

Mississippi ranks 18 of 51, highest first. Public school students; scale 0-500

Rank	Region	NAEP fourth-grade mathematics, average score
15	Colorado	239
16	Wisconsin	239
17	Connecticut	239
18	Mississippi	239
19	Hawaii	239
20	Pennsylvania	238
21	Virginia	238

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education) · saved copy

NAEP eighth-grade mathematics, average score (2024)

Mississippi ranks 37 of 51, highest first. Public school students; scale 0-500

Rank	Region	NAEP eighth-grade mathematics, average score
34	California	269
35	Texas	269
36	Georgia	269
37	Mississippi	269
38	Maryland	268
39	South Carolina	268
40	Oregon	268

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education) · saved copy

Eighth graders at or above NAEP Proficient in mathematics (2024)

Mississippi ranks 40 of 51, highest first. Public school students

Rank	Region	Eighth graders at or above NAEP Proficient in mathematics
37	Oregon	23.7%
38	Hawaii	23.2%
39	Missouri	23.0%
40	Mississippi	21.6%
41	Alaska	21.5%
42	Florida	21.1%
43	Louisiana	20.8%

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education) · saved copy

Fourth graders below NAEP Basic in reading (2024)

Mississippi ranks 45 of 51, highest first. Public school students

Rank	Region	Fourth graders below NAEP Basic in reading
42	Florida	37.6%
43	Connecticut	36.8%
44	Utah	35.5%
45	Mississippi	35.4%
46	Colorado	35.1%
47	Indiana	34.7%
48	New Jersey	33.7%

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education) · saved copy

Current spending per pupil, public schools (FY2024)

Mississippi ranks 47 of 51, highest first. Census Bureau Annual Survey of School System Finances

Rank	Region	Current spending per pupil, public schools
44	Tennessee	$12,882
45	South Dakota	$12,828
46	Florida	$12,693
47	Mississippi	$12,324
48	Oklahoma	$12,162
49	Arizona	$12,003
50	Utah	$11,347

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Change in current spending per pupil since FY2019 (FY2019-FY2024)

Mississippi ranks 24 of 51, highest first. Current dollars, not adjusted for inflation

Rank	Region	Change in current spending per pupil since FY2019
21	Arkansas	+33.5%
22	Maryland	+33.4%
23	New Jersey	+32.8%
24	Mississippi	+32.7%
25	Louisiana	+32.5%
26	Rhode Island	+32.0%
27	North Carolina	+31.8%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Share of public school revenue from local sources (FY2024)

Mississippi ranks 37 of 51, highest first. Census Bureau

Rank	Region	Share of public school revenue from local sources
34	California	35.0%
35	Arizona	34.7%
36	Indiana	32.7%
37	Mississippi	32.5%
38	Michigan	32.4%
39	Delaware	31.8%
40	Alabama	31.3%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Pupils per teacher, public schools (Fall 2022)

Mississippi ranks 37 of 51, highest first. Common Core of Data

Rank	Region	Pupils per teacher, public schools
34	Virginia	13.6
35	West Virginia	13.5
36	Pennsylvania	13.3
37	Mississippi	13.0
38	Kansas	12.9
39	Missouri	12.8
40	Arkansas	12.7

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education) · saved copy

Change in public school enrollment, fall 2019 to fall 2023 (2019-2023)

Mississippi ranks 49 of 51, highest first. Common Core of Data

Rank	Region	Change in public school enrollment, fall 2019 to fall 2023
45	New York	-5.9%
46	New Mexico	-5.9%
47	New Hampshire	-6.1%
48	Oregon	-6.2%
49	Mississippi	-6.3%
50	West Virginia	-6.3%
51	Hawaii	-6.5%

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education) · saved copy

Adults 25 and over with a bachelor's degree or higher (2024)

Mississippi ranks 50 of 51, highest first. American Community Survey 1-year estimates

Rank	Region	Adults 25 and over with a bachelor's degree or higher
45	Oklahoma	29.3%
46	Nevada	28.5%
47	Kentucky	27.9%
48	Louisiana	27.8%
49	Arkansas	27.1%
50	Mississippi	27.0%
51	West Virginia	24.4%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Adults 25 and over without a high school diploma or equivalent (2024)

Mississippi ranks 6 of 51, highest first. American Community Survey 1-year estimates

Rank	Region	Adults 25 and over without a high school diploma or equivalent
3	Nevada	12.3%
4	New Mexico	12.1%
5	New York	12.0%
6	Mississippi	12.0%
7	Louisiana	11.8%
8	Kentucky	11.0%
9	Arkansas	10.7%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

More on Mississippi: overview · economy and jobs · health · poverty and living standards · government budget · the United States

Sources

National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education): Digest of Education Statistics 2023, Table 219.46: Public high school 4-year adjusted cohort graduation rate (ACGR), by selected student characteristics and state, 2011-12 through 2021-22, read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 1913b92e5e75…)
U.S. Census Bureau: American Community Survey 2024 1-year estimates, table-based summary file: Educational attainment for the population 25 years and over (B15003), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 0c933281d2c2…)
National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education): Digest of Education Statistics 2024, Table 203.20: Enrollment in public elementary and secondary schools, by state, fall 1990 through fall 2023 (Common Core of Data), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 8e370b60d62a…)
U.S. Census Bureau: 2024 Annual Survey of School System Finances: summary tables (Public Elementary-Secondary Education Finance Data, fiscal year 2024), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 848133174f29…)
National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education): NAEP mathematics grade 4, 2019 and 2024: average scale score and achievement-level percentages for public school students by state (NAEP Data Service), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 913ed194a3d5…)
National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education): NAEP mathematics grade 8, 2019 and 2024: average scale score and achievement-level percentages for public school students by state (NAEP Data Service), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 7dc207d5418d…)
National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education): NAEP reading grade 4, 2019 and 2024: average scale score and achievement-level percentages for public school students by state (NAEP Data Service), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 7da857933d83…)
National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education): NAEP reading grade 8, 2019 and 2024: average scale score and achievement-level percentages for public school students by state (NAEP Data Service), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 790de8a24822…)
National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education): Digest of Education Statistics 2023, Table 208.40: Public elementary and secondary teachers, enrollment, and pupil/teacher ratios, by state, fall 2000 through fall 2022 (Common Core of Data), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 c15568f58c4c…)

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