Blackburn Middle School

Summary:

Blackburn Middle School is a public middle school in Jackson, Mississippi, serving 614 students in grades 6-8. The school is part of the Jackson Public School District, which is ranked 110 out of 130 districts in the state and has a 1-star rating from SchoolDigger. Blackburn Middle School has a predominantly African American student population, with over 98% of students identifying as such in recent years.

Blackburn Middle School consistently ranks among the lowest-performing middle schools in Mississippi, with statewide rankings between 235-263 out of 264 schools in recent years. The school's proficiency rates in English Language Arts, Mathematics, and Science are significantly lower than the state and district averages, often by 20-30 percentage points or more. Blackburn Middle School has a relatively high student-teacher ratio, ranging from 11.8 to 12.8 students per teacher in recent years, which is higher than the nearby schools in the district. Additionally, the school has a 100% free and reduced lunch rate, indicating that all students come from economically disadvantaged backgrounds. Despite the higher spending per student at $12,134, it has not translated into improved academic outcomes.

When comparing Blackburn Middle School to other middle schools in the Jackson Public School District, it consistently underperforms. For example, Kirksey Middle School, which is about 6 miles away, outperforms Blackburn Middle School by a significant margin in all tested subjects and grade levels. Blackburn Middle School's performance has remained stagnant or even declined over the past several years, with no significant improvements in its statewide ranking or proficiency rates. These persistent challenges suggest that targeted interventions and district-level support may be necessary to address the underlying issues and improve educational outcomes for the students.

Detail:

Public 6-8

1311 W Pearl Street
Jackson, MS 39203

(601) 960-5329

District: Jackson Public School District

SchoolDigger Rank:
261^st of 264 Mississippi Middle Schools

Per Pupil Expenditures: $13,813

Students who attend Blackburn Middle School usually attend:

High:

Jim Hill High School

Feeder schools for Blackburn Middle School:

Elementary:

Isable Elementary School

Student/teacher ratio: 12.8

Number of students: 614

Racial breakdown:

African American:

98.0%

Hispanic:

1.3%

White:

0.3%

Free/discounted lunch recipients: 100%

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Performance Trends

Compare Details Blackburn Middle School ranks worse than 98.9% of middle schools in Mississippi. It also ranks 6^th among 9 ranked middle schools in the Jackson Public School District. (See more...)

Compare Details In 2024 the calculated Average Standard Score was 4.08. (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 (98%), Hispanic (1.3%), two or more races (0.3%). (See more...)

Compare Details 100% of students are receiving a free or discounted lunch. This is the lowest percentage in the Jackson Public School District. (See more...)

Teachers

Compare Details The student/teacher ratio at Blackburn Middle School is 12.8, which is the highest among 9 middle schools in the Jackson Public School District! (See more...)

Compare Blackburn Middle School employs 47.9 full-time teachers.

Finance

Compare Details The average total spent per student at Blackburn Middle School is $13,813, which is the lowest among 9 middle schools in the Jackson Public School District!

Schooldigger Rankings:

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

SchoolDigger ranks Blackburn Middle School 261^st of 264 Mississippi public middle schools. (See Blackburn Middle School in the ranking list.)

Jackson Public School District:

SchoolDigger ranks Jackson Public School District 110^th of 130 Mississippi school districts. (See district ranking list.)

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Rank History for Blackburn Middle School

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Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Middle Schools	MS State Percentile
2008	41.77	159^th	244	34.8%
2009	50.49	129^th	247	47.8%
2010	35.36	181^st	255	29.0%
2011	26.49	223^rd	264	15.5%
2012	16.66	237^th	270	12.2%
2013	11.56	255^th	269	5.2%
2014	4.31	263^rd	264	0.4%
2015	7.44	265^th	266	0.4%
2016	8.49	251^st	260	3.5%
2017	5.15	269^th	272	1.1%
2018	8.32	241^st	252	4.4%
2019	13.53	227^th	264	14.0%
2021	11.08	235^th	257	8.6%
2022	6.54	251^st	257	2.3%
2023	6.27	238^th	243	2.1%
2024	4.08	261^st	264	1.1%

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

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Enrollment information for Blackburn Middle School

Compare

Year	White	African American	Asian	Hispanic	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Total
1990	0	744	0	0	n/a	n/a	744
1991	1	756	0	0	n/a	n/a	757
1992	0	719	0	0	n/a	n/a	719
1993	0	741	0	0	n/a	n/a	741
1994	1	705	0	0	n/a	n/a	706
1995	0	613	0	0	n/a	n/a	613
1996	0	613	0	0	n/a	n/a	613
1997	0	567	0	0	n/a	n/a	567
1998	0	692	0	0	n/a	n/a	692
1999	0	705	0	0	n/a	n/a	705
2000	0	639	0	0	n/a	n/a	639
2001	0	584	0	0	n/a	n/a	584
2002	5	638	0	0	n/a	n/a	643
2003	5	638	0	0	n/a	n/a	643
2004	2	592	0	0	n/a	n/a	594
2005	6	579	0	0	n/a	n/a	585
2006	3	526	1	0	n/a	n/a	530
2007	1	543	0	0	n/a	n/a	544
2008	4	463	0	0	n/a	n/a	467
2009	1	512	0	0	0	0	513
2010	1	468	0	0	0	0	469
2011	0	445	1	0	0	0	446
2012	1	400	1	0	0	2	404
2013	2	473	1	2	0	1	479
2014	1	486	0	2	0	1	490
2015	0	503	0	4	0	0	507
2016	2	456	1	2	0	1	462
2017	0	437	0	2	0	0	439
2018	1	424	0	2	0	0	427
2019	2	371	0	3	0	0	376
2020	0	366	0	3	0	0	369
2021	1	644	1	6	0	2	654
2022	0	590	1	7	0	2	600
2023	2	602	0	8	0	2	614

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 Blackburn Middle School

Compare

Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
1990	744	36.5	20.3	n/a
1991	757	40.0	18.9	n/a
1992	719	41.4	17.3	61.2
1993	741	40.0	18.5	63.4
1994	706	43.1	16.4	63.5
1995	613	38.8	15.8	64.6
1996	613	38.8	15.8	64.6
1997	567	40.3	14.1	69.7
1998	692	39.1	17.7	69.2
1999	705	43.0	16.4	78
2000	639	44.1	14.5	78.7
2001	584	40.0	14.6	81.2
2002	643	38.5	16.7	83
2003	643	38.5	16.7	83
2004	594	35.9	16.5	78.8
2005	585	34.2	17.1	77.9
2006	530	39.1	13.6	92.6
2007	544	43.0	12.7	93.2
2008	467	39.9	11.7	93.8
2009	513	38.4	13.4	93
2010	469	39.3	11.9	96.6
2011	446	34.0	13.1	94.6
2012	404	31.9	12.6	96.3
2013	479	32.2	14.8	96.2
2014	490	25.4	19.2	96.9
2015	507	33.0	15.3	100
2016	462	38.0	12.1	100
2017	439	36.4	12.0	100
2018	427	37.2	11.4	100
2019	376	28.6	13.1	100
2020	369	30.2	12.2	100
2021	654	52.9	12.3	100
2022	600	50.5	11.8	100
2023	614	47.9	12.8	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 Blackburn Middle School

Compare

Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
1990	744	36.5	20.3	n/a
1991	757	40.0	18.9	n/a
1992	719	41.4	17.3	61.2
1993	741	40.0	18.5	63.4
1994	706	43.1	16.4	63.5
1995	613	38.8	15.8	64.6
1996	613	38.8	15.8	64.6
1997	567	40.3	14.1	69.7
1998	692	39.1	17.7	69.2
1999	705	43.0	16.4	78
2000	639	44.1	14.5	78.7
2001	584	40.0	14.6	81.2
2002	643	38.5	16.7	83
2003	643	38.5	16.7	83
2004	594	35.9	16.5	78.8
2005	585	34.2	17.1	77.9
2006	530	39.1	13.6	92.6
2007	544	43.0	12.7	93.2
2008	467	39.9	11.7	93.8
2009	513	38.4	13.4	93
2010	469	39.3	11.9	96.6
2011	446	34.0	13.1	94.6
2012	404	31.9	12.6	96.3
2013	479	32.2	14.8	96.2
2014	490	25.4	19.2	96.9
2015	507	33.0	15.3	100
2016	462	38.0	12.1	100
2017	439	36.4	12.0	100
2018	427	37.2	11.4	100
2019	376	28.6	13.1	100
2020	369	30.2	12.2	100
2021	654	52.9	12.3	100
2022	600	50.5	11.8	100
2023	614	47.9	12.8	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 Blackburn Middle School

Year	Total Expenditures Per Pupil
2017	$10,637
2018	$12,134
2019	$11,884
2020	$11,632
2021	$11,823
2022	$13,813

Data source: Mississippi Department of Education

Pre and Post Pandemic Data

Impact of COVID-19 on Blackburn 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 227^th of 264 Middle schools	Ranks 238^th of 243 Middle schools	12%

Test Scores

	% proficient Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)	% proficient Post pandemic (2022-2023)	Change (%)
6th Grade English Language Arts (Blackburn Middle School)	12.6	11.3	1.3%
6th Grade English Language Arts (Jackson Public School District)	17.5	24	6.5%
6th Grade English Language Arts (Mississippi)	33.6	40.3	6.7%
6th Grade Mathematics (Blackburn Middle School)	31.3	8.9	22.4%
6th Grade Mathematics (Jackson Public School District)	24.2	18.5	5.7%
6th Grade Mathematics (Mississippi)	47.6	45.5	2.1%
7th Grade English Language Arts (Blackburn Middle School)	23	16.3	6.7%
7th Grade English Language Arts (Jackson Public School District)	26.3	28.1	1.8%
7th Grade English Language Arts (Mississippi)	39	40.2	1.2%
7th Grade Mathematics (Blackburn Middle School)	21.3	17.6	3.7%
7th Grade Mathematics (Jackson Public School District)	29.6	32.5	2.9%
7th Grade Mathematics (Mississippi)	51.1	55.6	4.5%
8th Grade English Language Arts (Blackburn Middle School)	13.5	17.5	4%
8th Grade English Language Arts (Jackson Public School District)	18.3	26.5	8.2%
8th Grade English Language Arts (Mississippi)	35.5	40.5	5%
8th Grade Mathematics (Blackburn Middle School)	15.2	10	5.2%
8th Grade Mathematics (Jackson Public School District)	19.5	20	0.5%
8th Grade Mathematics (Mississippi)	44.8	46.1	1.3%
8th Grade Science (Blackburn Middle School)	22.6	22.1	0.5%
8th Grade Science (Jackson Public School District)	27.6	32.6	5%
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	376	614	63.3%
African American	371	602	62.3%
American Indian	0	0
Asian	0	0
Hispanic	3	8	166.7%
Pacific Islander	0	0
White	2	2
Two or More Races	0	2
% Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients	100%	100%

Schools Near Blackburn 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
Blackburn Middle School	Public	6-8	1311 W Pearl Street	Jackson	39203	Hinds County	Jackson Public School District	No	No	No	Yes	(601) 960-5329	614	48	12.8	100.0%	2 (0.3%)	602 (98.0%)	8 (1.3%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (0.3%)	4.1	261^st of 264 public middle schools	1.1%		6.3	238^th of 243 public middle schools	2.1%	23		9.3	9.5	17.0		8.0	16.7	18.4			24.1	$13,813
Reimagine Prep	Public, Charter	5-8	309 W McDowell Rd	Jackson	39204	Hinds County	Reimagine Prep	Yes	No	No	Yes	(601) 941-0844	514	36	14.3	100.0%	2 (0.4%)	507 (98.6%)	3 (0.6%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.2%)	23.9	203^rd of 264 public middle schools	23.1%		16.2	215^th of 243 public middle schools	11.5%	12	25.0	19.0	23.3	31.9	7.6	24.6	44.8	33.9		46.2	53.5	$14,041
Bailey Middle Apac School	Public	6-8	1900 N State Street	Jackson	39202	Hinds County	Jackson Public School District	No	No	No	Yes	(601) 987-5343	247	25	10.0	100.0%	13 (5.3%)	225 (91.1%)	2 (0.8%)	1 (0.4%)	1 (0.4%)	0 (0.0%)	5 (2.0%)	89	23^rd of 264 public middle schools	91.3%		91.1	12^th of 243 public middle schools	95.1%	11		57.1	64.8	70.0		73.6	71.7	63.8	100.0		82.5	$15,190
Peeples Middle School	Public	6-8	2940 Belvedere Drive	Jackson	39212	Hinds County	Jackson Public School District	No	No	No	Yes	(601) 346-5660	298	36	8.3	100.0%	2 (0.7%)	290 (97.3%)	2 (0.7%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	4 (1.3%)	2.4	264^th of 264 public middle schools	0.0%					(n/a)		8.0	8.2	9.1		5.3	13.9	13.9			16.7	$16,823
Whitten Middle School	Public	6-8	210 Daniel Lake Boulevard	Jackson	39212	Hinds County	Jackson Public School District	No	No	No	Yes	(601) 371-4309	338	28	12.2	100.0%	3 (0.9%)	281 (83.1%)	46 (13.6%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	8 (2.4%)	2.4	263^rd of 264 public middle schools	0.4%		10.9	226^th of 243 public middle schools	7.0%	37		8.9	9.4	7.0		9.8	12.0	13.0			14.0	$16,222
Powell Middle School	Public	6-8	3655 Livingston Road	Jackson	39213	Hinds County	Jackson Public School District	No	No	No	Yes	(601) 987-3580	320	33	9.7	100.0%	1 (0.3%)	314 (98.1%)	1 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	4 (1.3%)	3.6	262^nd of 264 public middle schools	0.8%		5.4	241^st of 243 public middle schools	0.8%	21		10.5	15.5	12.9		4.0	14.3	16.7			18.8	$15,619
Cardozo Middle School	Public	6-8	3180 McDowell Rd Ext	Jackson	39212	Hinds County	Jackson Public School District	No	No	No	Yes	(601) 346-5635	625	51	12.2	100.0%	11 (1.8%)	586 (93.8%)	20 (3.2%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	8 (1.3%)	5	260^th of 264 public middle schools	1.5%		6.6	237^th of 243 public middle schools	2.5%	23		14.0	16.2	12.8		14.6	19.8	14.6			18.1	$14,217
Joel E. Smilow Prep	Public, Charter	5-8	787 E. Northside Drive	Jackson	39206	Hinds County	Joel E. Smillow Prep	Yes	No	No	Yes	(769) 524-5330	577	40	14.4	100.0%	3 (0.5%)	574 (99.5%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	24.8	197^th of 264 public middle schools	25.4%		18.2	208^th of 243 public middle schools	14.4%	11	35.2	18.8	24.3	30.7	34.5	10.4	37.3	57.3		67.3	47.6	$11,532
Chastain Middle School	Public	6-8	4650 Manhattan Road	Jackson	39206	Hinds County	Jackson Public School District	No	No	No	Yes	(601) 987-3550	499	48	10.3	100.0%	11 (2.2%)	457 (91.6%)	24 (4.8%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	6 (1.2%)	6.9	254^th of 264 public middle schools	3.8%		16.3	214^th of 243 public middle schools	11.9%	40		12.9	20.7	15.0		17.2	24.5	15.8			24.2	$15,321
Kirksey Middle School	Public	6-8	5677 Highland Dr	Jackson	39206	Hinds County	Jackson Public School District	No	No	No	Yes	(601) 987-8360	247	23	10.7	100.0%	1 (0.4%)	242 (98.0%)	1 (0.4%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	3 (1.2%)	27.2	190^th of 264 public middle schools	28.0%		18.9	204^th of 243 public middle schools	16.0%	14		24.1	25.0	30.0		34.5	46.5	47.1	100.0		42.2	$16,882

Frequently Asked Questions about Blackburn Middle School

What is the racial makeup of Blackburn Middle School?

Students at Blackburn Middle School are 98% African American, 1% Hispanic.

Is Blackburn Middle School a good school?

Blackburn Middle School ranks in the bottom 1.1% of Mississippi middle schools.

How many students attend Blackburn Middle School?

In the 2022-23 school year, 614 students attended Blackburn Middle School.

What district is Blackburn Middle School in?

Jackson Public School District

What high school do graduates of Blackburn Middle School attend?

Students who attend Blackburn Middle School usually go on to attend Jim Hill High School

Rate Blackburn Middle School!

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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.