South Pontotoc Middle School

Q: Is South Pontotoc Middle School a good school?

South Pontotoc Middle School ranks 91 st of 264 Mississippi middle schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 3 stars out of 5.

Summary:

South Pontotoc Middle School is a public middle school serving 374 students in grades 6-8 in Pontotoc, Mississippi, which is part of the Pontotoc County School District. The school has a strong academic record, consistently earning a 4-star rating from SchoolDigger and outperforming the state average on standardized tests, particularly in mathematics.

One notable aspect of South Pontotoc Middle School is its predominantly white student population, which contrasts with the more diverse nearby schools like New Albany Middle School and the Pontotoc City Schools district. While the school's test scores are impressive, its high poverty levels, with 99.2% of students receiving free or reduced-price lunch, present unique challenges that the school has managed to navigate effectively. The school's spending per student, at $5,762, is lower than the nearby schools, which range from $6,161 to $8,548 per student.

Compared to other schools in the area, South Pontotoc Middle School stands out for its consistent high performance, even as its test scores have shown a slight decline in recent years, particularly in English Language Arts. The school's success in supporting student learning despite the high poverty levels is commendable, but there may be a need to examine the school's efforts to promote inclusivity and address any potential equity issues within its predominantly white student population. Continued focus on addressing these challenges and maintaining academic excellence will be crucial for the school's long-term success.

Detail:

Public 6-8

1523 South Pontotoc Rd
Pontotoc, MS 38863

(662) 489-3476

District: Pontotoc County School District

SchoolDigger Rank:
91^st of 264 Mississippi Middle Schools

Per Pupil Expenditures: $8,350

Students who attend South Pontotoc Middle School usually attend:

High:

South Pontotoc High School

Feeder schools for South Pontotoc Middle School:

Elementary:

South Pontotoc Elementary School

Student/teacher ratio: 12.9

Number of students: 374

Racial breakdown:

White:

82.6%

Hispanic:

7.2%

African American:

7.0%

Free/discounted lunch recipients: 99.2%

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Performance Trends

Compare Details South Pontotoc Middle School ranks better than 65.5% of middle schools in Mississippi. (See more...)

Compare Details In 2024 the calculated Average Standard Score was 64.06. (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 South Pontotoc Middle School has the largest middle school student body size in the Pontotoc County School District. Racial makeup is: White (82.6%), Hispanic (7.2%), African American (7%). (See more...)

Compare Details 99.2% of students are receiving a free or discounted lunch. This is the highest percentage in the Pontotoc County School District. (See more...)

Teachers

Compare Details The student/teacher ratio at South Pontotoc Middle School is 12.9, which is the lowest among 3 middle schools in the Pontotoc County School District! (See more...)

Compare South Pontotoc Middle School employs 28.8 full-time teachers.

Finance

Compare Details The average total spent per student at South Pontotoc Middle School is $8,350, which is the lowest among 3 middle schools in the Pontotoc County School District!

Schooldigger Rankings:

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

SchoolDigger ranks South Pontotoc Middle School 91^st of 264 Mississippi public middle schools. (See South Pontotoc Middle School in the ranking list.)

Pontotoc County School District:

SchoolDigger ranks Pontotoc County School District 26^th of 130 Mississippi school districts. (See district ranking list.)

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Rank History for South Pontotoc Middle School

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Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Middle Schools	MS State Percentile
2008	81.76	33^rd	244	86.5%
2009	79.46	39^th	247	84.2%
2010	80.75	34^th	255	86.7%
2011	82.08	31^st	264	88.3%
2012	69.58	82^nd	270	69.6%
2013	69.65	78^th	269	71.0%
2014	75.03	52^nd	264	80.3%
2015	80.82	40^th	266	85.0%
2016	79.26	41^st	260	84.2%
2017	66.50	86^th	272	68.4%
2018	54.98	112^th	252	55.6%
2019	63.53	94^th	264	64.4%
2021	71.62	68^th	257	73.5%
2022	75.56	55^th	257	78.6%
2023	70.90	68^th	243	72.0%
2024	64.06	91^st	264	65.5%

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 South Pontotoc Middle School

Compare

Year	White	African American	Asian	Hispanic	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Total
2002	339	42	1	4	n/a	n/a	386
2003	339	42	1	4	n/a	n/a	386
2004	319	35	1	8	n/a	n/a	363
2005	323	26	0	8	n/a	n/a	357
2006	320	27	0	5	n/a	n/a	352
2007	327	32	0	6	n/a	n/a	365
2008	356	44	0	9	n/a	n/a	409
2009	335	42	0	15	0	0	392
2010	301	39	0	16	0	1	357
2011	278	27	0	18	0	1	324
2012	308	26	0	19	0	3	356
2013	315	32	0	19	0	2	368
2014	329	40	0	24	0	3	396
2015	338	37	0	25	1	0	401
2016	325	30	0	23	1	1	380
2017	369	36	0	25	1	5	436
2018	347	31	0	24	0	8	410
2019	361	35	0	32	0	12	440
2020	331	31	3	29	0	6	400
2021	313	27	3	27	0	6	376
2022	308	29	3	30	0	7	377
2023	309	26	0	27	0	12	374

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 South Pontotoc Middle School

Compare

Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
2002	386	26.6	14.5	49.2
2003	386	26.6	14.5	49.2
2004	363	25.1	14.5	50.4
2005	357	20.6	17.3	54.9
2006	352	21.0	16.8	59.4
2007	365	23.1	15.8	60.5
2008	409	25.4	16.1	60.1
2009	392	27.1	14.5	61
2010	357	27.3	13.0	62.7
2011	324	25.9	12.4	65.1
2012	356	n/a	n/a	62.9
2013	368	30.8	11.9	59.8
2014	396	30.7	12.8	64.4
2015	401	29.0	13.8	64.3
2016	380	29.0	13.1	66.3
2017	436	25.8	16.8	62.6
2018	410	26.6	15.3	65.4
2019	440	27.0	16.2	62.3
2020	400	33.5	11.9	60.3
2021	376	26.5	14.1	99.2
2022	377	28.3	13.3	99.2
2023	374	28.8	12.9	99.2

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 South Pontotoc Middle School

Compare

Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
2002	386	26.6	14.5	49.2
2003	386	26.6	14.5	49.2
2004	363	25.1	14.5	50.4
2005	357	20.6	17.3	54.9
2006	352	21.0	16.8	59.4
2007	365	23.1	15.8	60.5
2008	409	25.4	16.1	60.1
2009	392	27.1	14.5	61
2010	357	27.3	13.0	62.7
2011	324	25.9	12.4	65.1
2012	356	n/a	n/a	62.9
2013	368	30.8	11.9	59.8
2014	396	30.7	12.8	64.4
2015	401	29.0	13.8	64.3
2016	380	29.0	13.1	66.3
2017	436	25.8	16.8	62.6
2018	410	26.6	15.3	65.4
2019	440	27.0	16.2	62.3
2020	400	33.5	11.9	60.3
2021	376	26.5	14.1	99.2
2022	377	28.3	13.3	99.2
2023	374	28.8	12.9	99.2

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 South Pontotoc Middle School

Year	Total Expenditures Per Pupil
2017	$5,646
2018	$5,762
2019	$6,400
2020	$7,953
2021	$7,388
2022	$8,350

Data source: Mississippi Department of Education

Pre and Post Pandemic Data

Impact of COVID-19 on South Pontotoc 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 94^th of 264 Middle schools	Ranks 68^th of 243 Middle schools	7.6%

Test Scores

	% proficient Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)	% proficient Post pandemic (2022-2023)	Change (%)
6th Grade English Language Arts (South Pontotoc Middle School)	41.5	44	2.5%
6th Grade English Language Arts (Pontotoc County School District)	41.4	46.7	5.3%
6th Grade English Language Arts (Mississippi)	33.6	40.3	6.7%
6th Grade Mathematics (South Pontotoc Middle School)	64.5	55.5	9%
6th Grade Mathematics (Pontotoc County School District)	63.7	67.7	4%
6th Grade Mathematics (Mississippi)	47.6	45.5	2.1%
7th Grade English Language Arts (South Pontotoc Middle School)	37.8	48.5	10.7%
7th Grade English Language Arts (Pontotoc County School District)	32.8	46.9	14.1%
7th Grade English Language Arts (Mississippi)	39	40.2	1.2%
7th Grade Mathematics (South Pontotoc Middle School)	53.4	69.4	16%
7th Grade Mathematics (Pontotoc County School District)	50.3	69.7	19.4%
7th Grade Mathematics (Mississippi)	51.1	55.6	4.5%
8th Grade English Language Arts (South Pontotoc Middle School)	30.9	38.3	7.4%
8th Grade English Language Arts (Pontotoc County School District)	33.5	41	7.5%
8th Grade English Language Arts (Mississippi)	35.5	40.5	5%
8th Grade Mathematics (South Pontotoc Middle School)	40	52	12%
8th Grade Mathematics (Pontotoc County School District)	35.1	52	16.9%
8th Grade Mathematics (Mississippi)	44.8	46.1	1.3%
8th Grade Science (South Pontotoc Middle School)	62.6	58.4	4.2%
8th Grade Science (Pontotoc County School District)	58.2	61.1	2.9%
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	440	374	15%
African American	35	26	25.7%
American Indian	0	0
Asian	0	0
Hispanic	32	27	15.6%
Pacific Islander	0	0
White	361	309	14.4%
Two or More Races	12	12
% Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients	62.3%	99.2%	36.9%

Schools Near South Pontotoc 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
South Pontotoc Middle School	Public	6-8	1523 South Pontotoc Rd	Pontotoc	38863	Pontotoc County	Pontotoc County School District	No	No	No	No	(662) 489-3476	374	29	12.9	99.2%	309 (82.6%)	26 (7.0%)	27 (7.2%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	12 (3.2%)	64.1	91^st of 264 public middle schools	65.5%		70.9	68^th of 243 public middle schools	72.0%	23		32.6	45.0	47.7		48.4	63.3	67.4			64.4	$8,350
Pontotoc Junior High School	Public	7-8	132 North Main Street	Pontotoc	38863	Pontotoc County	Pontotoc City Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(662) 489-8360	375	30	12.7	99.2%	178 (47.5%)	101 (26.9%)	82 (21.9%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	14 (3.7%)	68.3	76^th of 264 public middle schools	71.2%		72.7	63^rd of 243 public middle schools	74.1%	13			42.7	41.7			59.8	68.1	100.0		67.5	$10,701
Pontotoc Middle School	Public	5-6	135 Education Drive	Pontotoc	38863	Pontotoc County	Pontotoc City Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(662) 489-6056	348	25	14.0	99.1%	171 (49.1%)	90 (25.9%)	58 (16.7%)	4 (1.1%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	25 (7.2%)								(n/a)	46.0	44.0			58.4	72.9				71.3		$9,585
North Pontotoc Middle School	Public	7-8	8324 Hwy 15 North	Ecru	38841	Pontotoc County	Pontotoc County School District	No	No	No	No	(662) 489-5612	283	21	13.1	98.9%	198 (70.0%)	35 (12.4%)	43 (15.2%)	3 (1.1%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	4 (1.4%)	80	44^th of 264 public middle schools	83.3%		73.7	59^th of 243 public middle schools	75.7%	15			50.7	52.7			72.4	61.4	100.0		71.1	$8,559
North Pontotoc Upper Elementary	Public	5-6	1620 Old Highway 15	Ecru	38841	Pontotoc County	Pontotoc County School District	No	No	No	No	(662) 489-2295	285	19	15.0	98.9%	205 (71.9%)	30 (10.5%)	45 (15.8%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	5 (1.8%)								(n/a)	46.6	40.0			62.4	61.0				74.5		$8,709
New Albany Middle School	Public	6-8	400 Apple Street	New Albany	38652	Union County	New Albany Public Schools	No	No	No	No	(662) 534-1820	482	31	15.4	99.4%	244 (50.6%)	114 (23.7%)	79 (16.4%)	13 (2.7%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	32 (6.6%)	66.9	78^th of 264 public middle schools	70.5%		67.5	75^th of 243 public middle schools	69.1%	3		46.4	45.7	43.3		50.7	66.9	61.3	100.0		61.9	$10,535

Frequently Asked Questions about South Pontotoc Middle School

What is the racial makeup of South Pontotoc Middle School?

Students at South Pontotoc Middle School are 83% White, 7% Hispanic, 7% African American, 3% Two or more races.

Is South Pontotoc Middle School a good school?

South Pontotoc Middle School ranks 91^st of 264 Mississippi middle schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 3 stars out of 5.

What high school do graduates of South Pontotoc Middle School attend?

Students who attend South Pontotoc Middle School usually go on to attend South Pontotoc High School

What district is South Pontotoc Middle School in?

Pontotoc County School District

How many students attend South Pontotoc Middle School?

In the 2022-23 school year, 374 students attended South Pontotoc Middle School.

Rate South Pontotoc 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.