Is Belle Shivers Middle School a good school?

Belle Shivers Middle School ranks 184 th of 264 Mississippi middle schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 2 stars out of 5.

How many students attend Belle Shivers Middle School?

In the 2022-23 school year, 352 students attended Belle Shivers Middle School.

What is the racial makeup of Belle Shivers Middle School?

Students at Belle Shivers Middle School are 96% African American, 2% White, 2% Two or more races.

What high school do graduates of Belle Shivers Middle School attend?

Students who attend Belle Shivers Middle School usually go on to attend Aberdeen High School

Belle Shivers Middle School

Summary:

Belle Shivers Middle School is a public middle school in Aberdeen, Mississippi, serving 352 students in grades 5-8. The school is part of the Amory School District, which is ranked 108 out of 130 districts in the state and has a 1-star rating from SchoolDigger.

Belle Shivers Middle School faces significant challenges compared to nearby schools. The student population is overwhelmingly African American (95.74%), much higher than the diversity seen in surrounding schools like Caledonia Middle School and Amory Middle School. Academically, the school consistently underperforms the state average in proficiency rates for English Language Arts, Mathematics, and Science across all grade levels. For example, in 2023-2024, the school's 8th-grade proficiency rates were 19.1% in ELA, 27% in Math, and 33.8% in Science, compared to the state averages of 42%, 55.3%, and 59.1%, respectively. This poor academic performance is reflected in the school's low statewide ranking, typically falling in the bottom half of Mississippi middle schools, and its 1 or 2-star ratings from SchoolDigger.

The challenges faced by Belle Shivers Middle School are further compounded by the high poverty levels among its student population, with 100% of students eligible for free or reduced-price lunch. This suggests a need for additional support and resources to address the unique needs of students from low-income backgrounds. Addressing the school's academic, demographic, and economic challenges will require a comprehensive, data-driven approach that focuses on improving educational outcomes, fostering diversity and inclusion, and providing targeted support for students and families.

Detail:

Public 5-8

518 West Vine Street
Aberdeen, MS 39730

(662) 369-2649

District: Aberdeen School District

SchoolDigger Rank:
184^th of 264 Mississippi Middle Schools

Per Pupil Expenditures: $16,119

Students who attend Belle Shivers Middle School usually attend:

High:

Aberdeen High School

Feeder schools for Belle Shivers Middle School:

Elementary:

Aberdeen Elementary School

Student/teacher ratio: 10.6

Number of students: 352

Racial breakdown:

African American:

95.7%

White:

2.0%

Two or more races:

2.0%

Free/discounted lunch recipients: 100%

See top rated Mississippi middle schools

Compare Belle Shivers Middle School to nearby middle schools!

Performance Trends

Compare Details Belle Shivers Middle School is not ranked due for the most recent year due to insufficient test score data. (See more...)

Compare Details In 2023 the calculated Average Standard Score was 25.6. (See more...)

Compare Details Belle Shivers Middle School ranks worse than 69.7% of middle schools in Mississippi. (See more...)

Compare Details In 2024 the calculated Average Standard Score was 29.45. (See more...)

Chronic absenteeism in a school refers to a situation where students repeatedly miss school, with the threshold often defined as missing 10% or more of school days for any reason, excused or unexcused.

Student Body

Compare Details Racial makeup is: African American (95.7%), two or more races (2%), White (2%). (See more...)

Compare Details 100% of students are receiving a free or discounted lunch. (See more...)

Teachers

Compare Details The student/teacher ratio at Belle Shivers Middle School is 10.6. (See more...)

Compare Belle Shivers Middle School employs 32.9 full-time teachers.

Finance

Compare Details The average total spent per student at Belle Shivers Middle School is $16,119.

Schooldigger Rankings:

Belle Shivers Middle School was not ranked this year due to insufficient test score data.

SchoolDigger ranks Belle Shivers Middle School 184^th of 264 Mississippi public middle schools. (See Belle Shivers Middle School in the ranking list.)

Aberdeen School District:

SchoolDigger ranks Aberdeen School District 108^th of 130 Mississippi school districts. (See district ranking list.)

Average Rating:

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Rank History for Belle Shivers Middle School

Compare

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Elementary Schools	MS State Percentile
2019	33.89	267^th	397	32.7%
2021	18.92	304^th	381	20.2%
2022	19.58	314^th	382	17.8%
2023	25.60	297^th	377	21.2%

See the entire list of Mississippi Middle School Rankings!

Data source: test scores: Mississippi Department of Education, rankings: SchoolDigger.com

Rank History for Belle Shivers Middle School

Compare

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Middle Schools	MS State Percentile
2019	25.30	199^th	264	24.6%
2021	30.78	169^th	257	34.2%
2022	26.70	183^rd	257	28.8%
2023	27.02	172^nd	243	29.2%
2024	29.45	184^th	264	30.3%

See the entire list of Mississippi Middle School Rankings!

Data source: test scores: Mississippi Department of Education, rankings: SchoolDigger.com

Data source: Mississippi Department of Education

Review counts

All ratings (Avg rating: 1)

100%

Reviews:

by a teacher
Wednesday, March 16, 2022

I worked as a teacher for BSMS in 2019. I have to say it was one of the worst schools I have every worked for. The building was in horrible shape (multiple leaks in my room) and the administration for the most part was not supportive. The discipline is/was an afterthought and overall was just an horrible experience. There are some really good kids and some really good parents that are there but unfortunately the bad overtakes the good at this school and city. Would not recommend working or living here to be honest. Again thats not to say everyone and everything is bad here. I just would not raise a family here or even send my kid for one semester. I can't speak for the elementary school or the high school but this one is avoidable. When I was there it was in a horrible spot. In the 7th grade out of all their students only 3 made their AR goals. This was a school with many talented teachers also. With that said there was some kliqs there that stuck together and would talk about you in a heartbeat. If you happen to work there please watch your back. Anyways I fully would recommend you staying clear of this school if possible. Close Quote

by a citizen
Tuesday, December 10, 2019

This school is failing severely. This school will not protect your child(ren) from bullies, sexual assault/harassment, or anything you wouldn't want your child to experience. Teachers here doesn't have their children attending this school or district because they intentionally fail these children by not educating up to state standards. Only send your child(ren) to school here if you are planning to raise a menace to society. If you would like for your child to obtain the proper education and values of life, I beg you to not jeopardize your child's life by sending them to school here. There is only 1 elementary, 1 middle school, and 1 high school in this district therefore driving outside this district should seriously be considered if you value your child's future and success. Teachers here have no problem playing rap music, usng profanity, and much more you may not want your child involved in. Do not support this school failing our youth giving them no chance at equal education. We should not support paying taxes to keep this school open just to have a failing option as an option. Our children deserve a better chance at life! Close Quote

Enrollment information for Belle Shivers Middle School

Compare

Year	White	African American	Asian	Hispanic	American Indian	Two or More Races	Total
2017	11	512	0	3	1	4	531
2018	9	525	0	0	0	6	540
2019	11	497	0	0	0	7	515
2020	14	450	1	0	0	9	474
2021	7	410	2	0	0	12	431
2022	5	396	6	0	0	9	416
2023	7	337	1	0	0	7	352

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Enrollment/Ethnicity

For more information about how the Department of Education defines ethnicity, see Defining Race and Ethnicity Data, National Center for Education Statistics

Students eligible for free or discounted lunch at Belle Shivers Middle School

Compare

Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
2017	531	36.5	14.5	100
2018	540	37.2	14.5	100
2019	515	40.1	12.8	100
2020	474	36.1	13.1	100
2021	431	33.1	13.0	100
2022	416	32.1	12.9	100
2023	352	32.9	10.6	100

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Students eligible for discounted/free lunch:

The National School Lunch Program (NSLP) provides low-cost or free meals to students in U.S. public and nonprofit private schools based on household income. Those with incomes below 130% of the poverty line receive free lunch, while those between 130% and 185% qualify for reduced-price lunch. The percentage of students receiving free or reduced-price lunch serves as a marker for poverty, as it reflects the socioeconomic status of families in a given school or district. A higher FRPL rate typically indicates a higher concentration of low-income families, suggesting that the school or district may face additional challenges in providing adequate resources and support for student success.

Student/Teacher Ratio Belle Shivers Middle School

Compare

Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
2017	531	36.5	14.5	100
2018	540	37.2	14.5	100
2019	515	40.1	12.8	100
2020	474	36.1	13.1	100
2021	431	33.1	13.0	100
2022	416	32.1	12.9	100
2023	352	32.9	10.6	100

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Student-Teacher Ratio

Student/teacher ratio is calculated by dividing the total number of students by the total number of full-time equivalent teachers. Please note that a smaller student/teacher ratio does not necessarily translate to smaller class size. In some instances, schools hire teachers part time, and some teachers are hired for specialized instruction with very small class sizes. These and other factors contribute to the student/teacher ratio. Note: For private schools, Student/teacher ratio may not include Pre-Kindergarten.

Finances

Per Pupil Expenditures for Belle Shivers Middle School

Year	Total Expenditures Per Pupil
2017	$8,906
2018	$9,724
2019	$10,830
2020	$12,972
2021	$12,465
2022	$16,118

Data source: Mississippi Department of Education

Pre and Post Pandemic Data

Impact of COVID-19 on Belle Shivers Middle School

The coronavirus has had a profound impact on education in America. Learning shifted online overnight, attendance numbers dwindled, and enrollment decreased. SchoolDigger.com is making it easier for you to better assess how COVID-19 has impacted your school. Through the collection of pre-pandemic (2019) and current data, SchoolDigger.com is sharing test scores, enrollment numbers and school demographics from schools across the country – and we make it easy to see how impacted schools compare locally and statewide.

Rankings

Rank Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)	Rank Post pandemic (2022-2023)	Change (%)
Ranks 267^th of 397 Elementary schools	Ranks 297^th of 377 Elementary schools	11.5%
Ranks 199^th of 264 Middle schools	Ranks 172^nd of 243 Middle schools	4.6%

Test Scores

	% proficient Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)	% proficient Post pandemic (2022-2023)	Change (%)
4th Grade English Language Arts (Belle Shivers Middle School)	34.6	38.6	4%
4th Grade English Language Arts (Aberdeen School District)	34.6	38.6	4%
4th Grade English Language Arts (Mississippi)	48.5	53.4	4.9%
4th Grade Mathematics (Belle Shivers Middle School)	24.7	40.9	16.2%
4th Grade Mathematics (Aberdeen School District)	24.7	40.9	16.2%
4th Grade Mathematics (Mississippi)	48.8	56.7	7.9%
5th Grade English Language Arts (Belle Shivers Middle School)	27.4	25.7	1.7%
5th Grade English Language Arts (Aberdeen School District)	27.4	25.7	1.7%
5th Grade English Language Arts (Mississippi)	43	51.9	8.9%
5th Grade Mathematics (Belle Shivers Middle School)	18.6	32.8	14.2%
5th Grade Mathematics (Aberdeen School District)	18.6	32.8	14.2%
5th Grade Mathematics (Mississippi)	38.9	44.3	5.4%
5th Grade Science (Belle Shivers Middle School)	54	44.3	9.7%
5th Grade Science (Aberdeen School District)	54	44.3	9.7%
5th Grade Science (Mississippi)	55.9	64.3	8.4%
6th Grade English Language Arts (Belle Shivers Middle School)	29.3	23.7	5.6%
6th Grade English Language Arts (Aberdeen School District)	29.3	23.7	5.6%
6th Grade English Language Arts (Mississippi)	33.6	40.3	6.7%
6th Grade Mathematics (Belle Shivers Middle School)	44.4	39.4	5%
6th Grade Mathematics (Aberdeen School District)	44.4	39.4	5%
6th Grade Mathematics (Mississippi)	47.6	45.5	2.1%
7th Grade English Language Arts (Belle Shivers Middle School)	22.8	15.6	7.2%
7th Grade English Language Arts (Aberdeen School District)	22.8	15.6	7.2%
7th Grade English Language Arts (Mississippi)	39	40.2	1.2%
7th Grade Mathematics (Belle Shivers Middle School)	34.8	52.4	17.6%
7th Grade Mathematics (Aberdeen School District)	34.8	52.4	17.6%
7th Grade Mathematics (Mississippi)	51.1	55.6	4.5%
8th Grade English Language Arts (Belle Shivers Middle School)	13.4	29.3	15.9%
8th Grade English Language Arts (Aberdeen School District)	13.4	29.3	15.9%
8th Grade English Language Arts (Mississippi)	35.5	40.5	5%
8th Grade Mathematics (Belle Shivers Middle School)	15.2	24	8.8%
8th Grade Mathematics (Aberdeen School District)	15.2	24	8.8%
8th Grade Mathematics (Mississippi)	44.8	46.1	1.3%
8th Grade Science (Belle Shivers Middle School)	34.2	34.2
8th Grade Science (Aberdeen School District)	34.2	34.2
8th Grade Science (Mississippi)	52.7	53.3	0.6%

Student Body

	Number of students Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)	Number of students Post pandemic (2022-2023)	Change (%)
Total Students	515	352	31.7%
African American	497	337	32.2%
American Indian	0	0
Asian	0	1
Hispanic	0	0
Pacific Islander	0	0
White	11	7	36.4%
Two or More Races	7	7
% Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients	100%	100%

Schools Near Belle Shivers Middle School

Choose columns to see: Summary School Students/Teachers Ranking Test Scores Finance All

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2024)				Ranking (2023)				MAAP English Language Arts (2024)				MAAP Mathematics (2024)				MAAP Algebra I (2024)	MAAP Science (2024)		Per Pupil Expenditures (2022)
Name	Type	Grades	Address	City	Zip	County	District	Is Charter	Is Magnet	Is Virtual	Is Title I	Phone	Enrollment	Full-time Teachers	Student/ Teacher Ratio	Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients	White	Black	Hispanic	Asian	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Average Standard Score (2024)	Statewide Rank (2024)	State Percentile (2024)	SchoolDigger Rating (2024)	Average Standard Score (2023)	Statewide Rank (2023)	State Percentile (2023)	Rank Change from Previous Year	MAAP English Language Arts 5th Grade	MAAP English Language Arts 6th Grade	MAAP English Language Arts 7th Grade	MAAP English Language Arts 8th Grade	MAAP Mathematics 5th Grade	MAAP Mathematics 6th Grade	MAAP Mathematics 7th Grade	MAAP Mathematics 8th Grade	MAAP Algebra I End of Course	MAAP Science 5th Grade	MAAP Science 8th Grade	Total
Belle Shivers Middle School	Public	5-8	518 West Vine Street	Aberdeen	39730	Monroe County	Aberdeen School District	No	No	No	Yes	(662) 369-2649	352	33	10.6	100.0%	7 (2.0%)	337 (95.7%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	7 (2.0%)	29.5	184^th of 264 public middle schools	30.3%		27	172^nd of 243 public middle schools	29.2%	12	43.2	13.7	28.4	19.1	29.6	62.1	60.2	27.0		51.1	33.8	$16,119
Amory Middle School	Public	6-8	700 2nd Avenue North	Amory	38821	Monroe County	Amory School District	No	No	No	No	(662) 256-5658	331	26	12.6	99.1%	196 (59.2%)	118 (35.6%)	9 (2.7%)	1 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	7 (2.1%)	71.5	64^th of 264 public middle schools	75.8%		71.6	67^th of 243 public middle schools	72.4%	3		43.3	48.2	34.9		68.1	79.1	56.9			76.5	$10,338
Fifth Street School	Public	5-7	418 Fifth Street	West Point	39773	Clay County	West Point Consolidated School District	No	No	No	Yes	(662) 494-2191	526	46	11.4	100.0%	72 (13.7%)	432 (82.1%)	5 (1.0%)	5 (1.0%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.2%)	11 (2.1%)	43.8	154^th of 264 public middle schools	41.7%		36.3	149^th of 243 public middle schools	38.7%	5	40.8	20.5	33.3		41.6	47.9	67.1			57.6		$13,285
Caledonia Middle School	Public	6-8	105 Confederate Drive	Caledonia	39740	Lowndes County	Lowndes County School District	No	No	No	Yes	(662) 356-2042	498	34	14.5	99.4%	376 (75.5%)	89 (17.9%)	20 (4.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	13 (2.6%)	90.7	16^th of 264 public middle schools	93.9%		91.6	11^th of 243 public middle schools	95.5%	5		57.8	57.9	58.8		79.0	78.3	76.9	100.0		76.0	$10,008
Okolona Middle School	Public	6-8	404 Howard Gunn Street	Okolona	38860	Chickasaw County	Okolona Separate School District	No	No	No	Yes	(662) 447-2362	124	14	8.7	100.0%	1 (0.8%)	118 (95.2%)	1 (0.8%)	1 (0.8%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	3 (2.4%)	24.6	199^th of 264 public middle schools	24.6%		20.7	195^th of 243 public middle schools	19.8%	4		13.4	31.7	23.7		25.0	51.2	36.8			52.6	$14,644
Nettleton Elementary School	Public	4-6	170 Mullen Avenue	Nettleton	38858	Itawamba County	Nettleton School District	No	No	No	Yes	(662) 963-7406	452	33	13.7	99.3%	306 (67.7%)	128 (28.3%)	10 (2.2%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	8 (1.8%)								(n/a)												$9,238
Nettleton Junior High School	Public	7-8	1532 Maple Road	Nettleton	38858	Itawamba County	Nettleton School District	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(662) 963-7400																			(n/a)			26.5	14.1			39.7	34.6			43.6
Columbus Middle School	Public	6-8	175 Highway 373	Columbus	39705	Lowndes County	Columbus Municipal School District	No	No	No	Yes	(662) 241-7300	667	50	13.3	100.0%	14 (2.1%)	627 (94.0%)	15 (2.2%)	1 (0.1%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	10 (1.5%)	12.6	240^th of 264 public middle schools	9.1%		10.5	227^th of 243 public middle schools	6.6%	13		20.0	19.8	19.8		26.3	26.8	28.1			40.6	$12,781

Belle Shivers Middle School

Aberdeen School District:

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Rank History for Belle Shivers Middle School

Rank History for Belle Shivers Middle School

Review counts

Enrollment information for Belle Shivers Middle School

Students eligible for free or discounted lunch at Belle Shivers Middle School

Student/Teacher Ratio Belle Shivers Middle School

Per Pupil Expenditures for Belle Shivers Middle School

Impact of COVID-19 on Belle Shivers Middle School

Rankings

Test Scores

Student Body

Schools Near Belle Shivers Middle School