Harrison Central High School

Q: Is Harrison Central High School a good school?

Harrison Central High School ranks 67 th of 228 Mississippi high schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 4 stars out of 5.

Summary:

Harrison Central High School is a public high school serving grades 9-12 in Gulfport, Mississippi, part of the Harrison County School District. With a diverse student population, the school has consistently performed above the state average on standardized tests and maintains a strong statewide ranking, despite having a high percentage of economically disadvantaged students.

Harrison Central High School's academic performance is particularly noteworthy, with proficiency rates in subjects like Algebra I and U.S. History exceeding the state averages. In the 2023-2024 school year, the school's Algebra I proficiency rate was 77.7%, compared to the state average of 67.4%. Over the past several years, Harrison Central has maintained a statewide ranking between the 62nd and 86th percentile, earning a 4-star rating from SchoolDigger. This strong academic performance is achieved despite the school having an exceptionally high percentage (99.8%) of students receiving free or reduced-price lunch, indicating a high level of economic need among the student population.

When compared to other high schools in the Harrison County School District, such as Diberville Senior High School and West Harrison High School, Harrison Central High School performs slightly lower in test scores and statewide rankings, but still maintains strong academic performance. Interestingly, when compared to high schools in neighboring districts, such as Pass Christian High School and Biloxi High School, Harrison Central High School performs on par or better in certain subject areas, despite having a higher percentage of economically disadvantaged students.

Detail:

Public 9-12

15600 School Road
Gulfport, MS 39503

(228) 832-2610

District: Harrison County School District

SchoolDigger Rank:
67^th of 228 Mississippi High Schools

Per Pupil Expenditures: $10,730

Feeder schools for Harrison Central High School:

Elementary:	Bel Aire Elementary School
	Crossroads Elementary School
	River Oaks Elementary School
	Saucier Elementary School
	More...
	Three Rivers Elementary

Student/teacher ratio: 18.2

Number of students: 1,508

Racial breakdown:

African American:

50.4%

White:

35.9%

Hispanic:

7.3%

Free/discounted lunch recipients: 73.7%

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Performance Trends

Compare Details Harrison Central High School ranks better than 70.6% of high schools in Mississippi. It also ranks last among 3 ranked high schools in the Harrison County School District. (See more...)

Compare Details In 2024 the calculated Average Standard Score was 69.36. (See more...)

The four-year cohort graduation rate measures the percentage of students at Harrison Central High School who earn a standard high school diploma within four years of starting ninth grade.

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 Harrison Central High School has the largest high school student body size in the Harrison County School District. Racial makeup is: African American (50.4%), White (35.9%), Hispanic (7.3%). (See more...)

Compare Details 73.7% of students are receiving a free or discounted lunch. This is the highest percentage in the Harrison County School District. (See more...)

Teachers

Compare Details The student/teacher ratio at Harrison Central High School is 18.2. 3 high schools in the Harrison County School District have better student/teacher ratios. (See more...)

Compare Harrison Central High School employs 82.7 full-time teachers.

Finance

Compare Details The average total spent per student at Harrison Central High School is $10,730, which is the highest among 5 high schools in the Harrison County School District!

Schooldigger Rankings:

Harrison Central High School was not ranked this year due to insufficient test score data.

SchoolDigger ranks Harrison Central High School 67^th of 228 Mississippi public high schools. (See Harrison Central High School in the ranking list.)

Harrison County School District:

SchoolDigger ranks Harrison County School District 16^th of 130 Mississippi school districts. (See district ranking list.)

Average Rating:

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Rank History for Harrison Central High School

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Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	MS State Percentile
2004	65.86	75^th	232	67.7%
2005	63.05	91^st	232	60.8%
2006	51.04	128^th	232	44.8%
2007	39.23	164^th	232	29.3%
2008	55.06	119^th	235	49.4%
2009	41.34	157^th	235	33.2%
2010	60.59	100^th	235	57.4%
2011	52.55	123^rd	244	49.6%
2012	66.77	72^nd	241	70.1%
2013	52.82	115^th	238	51.7%
2014	56.52	97^th	236	58.9%
2015	59.07	73^rd	226	67.7%
2016	57.77	98^th	231	57.6%
2017	50.02	114^th	237	51.9%
2018	58.65	93^rd	233	60.1%
2019	57.40	88^th	233	62.2%
2021	60.85	86^th	231	62.8%
2022	68.10	65^th	228	71.5%
2023	67.94	62^nd	226	72.6%
2024	69.36	67^th	228	70.6%

See the entire list of Mississippi High 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: 5)

100%

Reviews:
No reviews have been submitted!

Enrollment information for Harrison Central High School

Compare

Year	White	African American	Asian	Hispanic	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Total
1990	1034	425	16	17	12	n/a	n/a	1504
1991	960	390	12	7	3	n/a	n/a	1372
1992	905	436	13	14	1	n/a	n/a	1369
1993	934	445	19	14	2	n/a	n/a	1414
1994	1008	431	18	13	2	n/a	n/a	1472
1995	968	441	17	14	3	n/a	n/a	1443
1996	968	441	17	14	3	n/a	n/a	1443
1997	993	444	20	9	4	n/a	n/a	1470
1998	1042	480	23	14	4	n/a	n/a	1563
1999	1052	466	32	16	3	n/a	n/a	1569
2000	1019	470	38	16	2	n/a	n/a	1545
2001	1081	451	30	18	2	n/a	n/a	1582
2002	1098	516	21	24	2	n/a	n/a	1661
2003	1098	516	21	24	2	n/a	n/a	1661
2004	1083	522	24	19	2	n/a	n/a	1650
2005	990	470	31	22	3	n/a	n/a	1516
2006	1012	461	33	16	3	n/a	n/a	1525
2007	1113	544	41	20	3	n/a	n/a	1721
2008	1133	625	31	26	5	n/a	n/a	1820
2009	1171	628	33	37	7	0	0	1876
2010	991	570	31	55	7	0	0	1654
2011	900	596	39	46	5	0	0	1586
2012	837	603	38	32	3	0	1	1514
2013	857	629	34	24	3	0	0	1547
2014	886	601	36	34	2	0	3	1562
2015	867	606	33	40	3	1	4	1554
2016	876	664	27	55	4	2	2	1630
2017	821	712	21	59	3	1	44	1661
2018	776	753	23	51	3	5	31	1642
2019	725	782	17	66	1	5	39	1635
2020	654	771	19	69	1	5	30	1549
2021	576	742	21	67	3	6	64	1479
2022	562	773	22	88	3	3	62	1513
2023	529	763	21	113	2	3	55	1486
2024	541	760	21	110	3	3	70	1508

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 Harrison Central High School

Compare

Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
1990	1504	69.5	21.6	n/a
1991	1372	64.6	21.2	n/a
1992	1369	63.1	21.6	40.8
1993	1414	65.2	21.7	42.3
1994	1472	69.1	21.3	40.4
1995	1443	72.1	20.0	38.9
1996	1443	72.1	20.0	38.9
1997	1470	78.6	18.7	39.3
1998	1563	82.5	18.9	40.9
1999	1569	81.7	19.2	54.5
2000	1545	84.6	18.3	55.4
2001	1582	78.4	20.2	55.4
2002	1661	80.9	20.5	53.2
2003	1661	80.9	20.5	53.2
2004	1650	81.2	20.3	36.5
2005	1516	69.6	21.8	44.9
2006	1525	70.1	21.8	62.9
2007	1721	64.4	26.7	44.9
2008	1820	78.4	23.2	44.3
2009	1876	89.5	21.0	50.4
2010	1654	85.9	19.2	54.6
2011	1586	87.5	18.1	62.6
2012	1514	86.1	17.5	65.6
2013	1547	89.5	17.2	66.5
2014	1562	90.7	17.2	67.3
2015	1554	89.0	17.4	69.4
2016	1630	90.0	18.1	71.7
2017	1661	89.0	18.6	67.7
2018	1642	84.3	19.4	70
2019	1635	85.7	19.0	69.5
2020	1549	78.7	19.6	74.2
2021	1479	81.9	18.0	99.8
2022	1513	76.0	19.9	99.8
2023	1486	87.5	16.9	99.8
2024	1508	82.7	18.2	73.7

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 Harrison Central High School

Compare

Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
1990	1504	69.5	21.6	n/a
1991	1372	64.6	21.2	n/a
1992	1369	63.1	21.6	40.8
1993	1414	65.2	21.7	42.3
1994	1472	69.1	21.3	40.4
1995	1443	72.1	20.0	38.9
1996	1443	72.1	20.0	38.9
1997	1470	78.6	18.7	39.3
1998	1563	82.5	18.9	40.9
1999	1569	81.7	19.2	54.5
2000	1545	84.6	18.3	55.4
2001	1582	78.4	20.2	55.4
2002	1661	80.9	20.5	53.2
2003	1661	80.9	20.5	53.2
2004	1650	81.2	20.3	36.5
2005	1516	69.6	21.8	44.9
2006	1525	70.1	21.8	62.9
2007	1721	64.4	26.7	44.9
2008	1820	78.4	23.2	44.3
2009	1876	89.5	21.0	50.4
2010	1654	85.9	19.2	54.6
2011	1586	87.5	18.1	62.6
2012	1514	86.1	17.5	65.6
2013	1547	89.5	17.2	66.5
2014	1562	90.7	17.2	67.3
2015	1554	89.0	17.4	69.4
2016	1630	90.0	18.1	71.7
2017	1661	89.0	18.6	67.7
2018	1642	84.3	19.4	70
2019	1635	85.7	19.0	69.5
2020	1549	78.7	19.6	74.2
2021	1479	81.9	18.0	99.8
2022	1513	76.0	19.9	99.8
2023	1486	87.5	16.9	99.8
2024	1508	82.7	18.2	73.7

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 Harrison Central High School

Year	Total Expenditures Per Pupil
2017	$7,218
2018	$7,739
2019	$8,721
2020	$10,145
2021	$9,434
2022	$10,730

Data source: Mississippi Department of Education

Pre and Post Pandemic Data

Impact of COVID-19 on Harrison Central High 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 88^th of 233 High schools	Ranks 62^nd of 226 High schools	10.3%

Test Scores

	% proficient Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)	% proficient Post pandemic (2022-2023)	Change (%)
End of Course Algebra I (Harrison Central High School)	43	69.9	26.9%
End of Course Algebra I (Harrison County School District)	59.6	80.7	21.1%
End of Course Algebra I (Mississippi)	49.3	65.8	16.5%
End of Course English II (Harrison Central High School)	45	53	8%
End of Course English II (Harrison County School District)	53.9	63.9	10%
End of Course English II (Mississippi)	43.9	50.1	6.2%
End of Course Biology (Harrison Central High School)	70.9	74.4	3.5%
End of Course Biology (Harrison County School District)	75	80.7	5.7%
End of Course Biology (Mississippi)	57.2	60.9	3.7%
End of Course U.S. History1 (Harrison Central High School)	54.5	77.9	23.4%
End of Course U.S. History1 (Harrison County School District)	68	83.8	15.8%
End of Course U.S. History1 (Mississippi)	55.5	71.4	15.9%

Student Body

	Number of students Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)	Number of students Post pandemic (2022-2023)	Change (%)
Total Students	1635	1486	9.1%
African American	782	763	2.4%
American Indian	1	2	100%
Asian	17	21	23.5%
Hispanic	66	113	71.2%
Pacific Islander	5	3	40%
White	725	529	27%
Two or More Races	39	55	41%
% Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients	69.5%	99.8%	30.3%

Schools Near Harrison Central High School

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

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2024)				Ranking (2023)				MAAP Algebra I (2024)	MAAP English II (2024)	MAAP Biology (2024)	MAAP U.S. History1 (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 Algebra I End of Course	MAAP English II End of Course	MAAP Biology End of Course	MAAP U.S. History1 End of Course	Total
Harrison Central High School	Public	9-12	15600 School Road	Gulfport	39503	Harrison County	Harrison County School District	No	No	No	Yes	(228) 832-2610	1,508	83	18.2	73.7%	541 (35.9%)	760 (50.4%)	110 (7.3%)	21 (1.4%)	3 (0.2%)	3 (0.2%)	70 (4.6%)	69.4	67^th of 228 public high schools	70.6%		67.9	62^nd of 226 public high schools	72.6%	5	77.7	52.9	69.3	75.7	$10,730
Harrison County Vocational Complex	Public	10-12	15600 School Road	Gulfport	39503	Harrison County	Harrison County School District	No	No	No	No	(228) 832-6652	0	9	.0		0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()								(n/a)
Harrison County Alternative School	Public	7-12	11072 Highway 49	Gulfport	39503	Harrison County	Harrison County School District	No	No	No	No	(228) 539-5956	0	10	.0		0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()								(n/a)
West Harrison High School	Public	9-12	10399 County Farm Road	Gulfport	39503	Harrison County	Harrison County School District	No	No	No	Yes	(228) 539-8900	1,154	65	17.7	62.0%	646 (56.0%)	372 (32.2%)	51 (4.4%)	13 (1.1%)	5 (0.4%)	5 (0.4%)	62 (5.4%)	88.5	7^th of 228 public high schools	96.9%		91.5	4^th of 226 public high schools	98.2%	3	91.4	68.0	84.3	84.2	$10,643
Gulfport High School	Public	9-12	100 Perry Street	Gulfport	39507	Harrison County	Gulfport School District	No	No	No	No	(228) 896-1750	1,742	103	16.9	61.1%	631 (36.2%)	891 (51.1%)	137 (7.9%)	19 (1.1%)	5 (0.3%)	2 (0.1%)	57 (3.3%)	63.5	84^th of 228 public high schools	63.2%		72.2	51^st of 226 public high schools	77.4%	33	80.7	61.7	57.4	70.3	$12,356
Gulfport Vocational Annex	Public	9-12	100 Perry Street	Gulfport	39507	Harrison County	Gulfport School District	No	No	No	No	(228) 896-6011	0	10	.0		0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()								(n/a)
Diberville Senior High School	Public	9-12	15625 Lamey Bridge Road	Biloxi	39532	Harrison County	Harrison County School District	No	No	No	Yes	(228) 392-2678	1,474	78	19.0	57.5%	790 (53.6%)	357 (24.2%)	154 (10.4%)	82 (5.6%)	7 (0.5%)	7 (0.5%)	77 (5.2%)	84.1	20^th of 228 public high schools	91.2%		85.8	12^th of 226 public high schools	94.7%	8	85.9	63.8	79.8	82.0	$10,015
Biloxi High School	Public	9-12	1845 Tribe Drive	Biloxi	39532	Harrison County	Biloxi Public School District	No	No	No	No	(228) 435-6105	1,697	109	15.6	53.4%	689 (40.6%)	600 (35.4%)	283 (16.7%)	62 (3.7%)	4 (0.2%)	4 (0.2%)	55 (3.2%)	81.7	28^th of 228 public high schools	87.7%		78.1	37^th of 226 public high schools	83.6%	9	87.3	58.9	74.5	83.4	$13,439
R D Brown Vocational Center	Public	9-12	1845 Tribe Drive	Biloxi	39532	Harrison County	Biloxi Public School District	No	No	No	No	(228) 435-6318	0	5	.0		0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()								(n/a)
Long Beach Senior High School	Public	9-12	300 East Old PassRoad	Long Beach	39560	Harrison County	Long Beach School District	No	No	No	No	(228) 863-6945	934	61	15.3	51.2%	672 (71.9%)	128 (13.7%)	21 (2.2%)	25 (2.7%)	1 (0.1%)	0 (0.0%)	87 (9.3%)	88.5	8^th of 228 public high schools	96.5%		85.4	14^th of 226 public high schools	93.8%	6	89.6	61.2	86.0	89.9	$10,600

Frequently Asked Questions about Harrison Central High School

How many students attend Harrison Central High School?

In the 2023-24 school year, 1,508 students attended Harrison Central High School.

What schools feed into Harrison Central High School?

Harrison Central High School is fed by the following schools:

Elementary : Bel Aire Elementary School
Elementary : Crossroads Elementary School
Elementary : River Oaks Elementary School
Elementary : Saucier Elementary School
Elementary : Three Rivers Elementary

What is the racial makeup of Harrison Central High School?

Students at Harrison Central High School are 50% African American, 36% White, 7% Hispanic, 5% Two or more races, 1% Asian.

Is Harrison Central High School a good school?

Harrison Central High School ranks 67^th of 228 Mississippi high schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 4 stars out of 5.

What district is Harrison Central High School in?

Harrison County School District

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SchoolDigger data sources: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education, the U.S. Census Bureau and the Mississippi Department of Education.

IMPORTANT DISCLAIMERS: Not all boundaries are included. We make every effort to ensure that boundaries are up-to-date. But it's important to note that these are approximations and are for general informational purposes only. To verify legal descriptions of boundaries or school locations, contact your local tax assessor's office and/or school district.