Pontotoc Junior High School

Q: Is Pontotoc Junior High School a good school?

Pontotoc Junior High School ranks 76 th of 264 Mississippi middle schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 4 stars out of 5.

Summary:

Pontotoc Junior High School is a public middle school serving grades 7-8 in Pontotoc, Mississippi, with a student population of 375. The school is part of the Pontotoc City Schools district, which is ranked 28 out of 130 districts in the state and has a 4-star rating.

Pontotoc Junior High School consistently performs well on state assessments, with a significant percentage of students scoring proficient or better in core subjects. For example, in 2023-2024, 68.1% of 8th-grade students were proficient or better in Mathematics, compared to the state average of 55.3%. In Algebra I, an impressive 100% of students were proficient or better, significantly higher than the state average of 67.4%. The school has maintained a strong statewide ranking, consistently placing in the top 25% of Mississippi middle schools, with a 4-star rating in the 2023-2024 school year.

Pontotoc Junior High School's low student-teacher ratio, ranging from 12.7 to 14.3 over the past three school years, suggests a more personalized learning environment for students. However, the school serves a population with significant economic challenges, with over 99% of students qualifying for free or reduced-price lunch. When compared to nearby middle schools, such as Plantersville Middle School, which has a 47% proficiency rate in 8th-grade Mathematics, Pontotoc Junior High School's performance is notably higher, demonstrating its ability to effectively support the needs of its diverse student population.

Detail:

Public 7-8

132 North Main Street
Pontotoc, MS 38863

(662) 489-8360

District: Pontotoc City Schools

SchoolDigger Rank:
76^th of 264 Mississippi Middle Schools

Per Pupil Expenditures: $10,701

Students who attend Pontotoc Junior High School usually attend:

High:

Pontotoc High School

Feeder schools for Pontotoc Junior High School:

Elementary:	D T Cox Elementary School
	Pontotoc Elementary School

Student/teacher ratio: 12.7

Number of students: 375

Racial breakdown:

White:

47.5%

African American:

26.9%

Hispanic:

21.9%

Free/discounted lunch recipients: 99.2%

See top rated Mississippi middle schools

Compare Pontotoc Junior High School to nearby middle schools!

Performance Trends

Compare Details Pontotoc Junior High School ranks better than 71.2% of middle schools in Mississippi. (See more...)

Compare Details In 2024 the calculated Average Standard Score was 68.3. (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 Student population at Pontotoc Junior High School is diverse. Racial makeup is: White (47.5%), African American (26.9%), Hispanic (21.9%). (See more...)

Compare Details 99.2% of students are receiving a free or discounted lunch. (See more...)

Teachers

Compare Details The student/teacher ratio at Pontotoc Junior High School is 12.7. (See more...)

Compare Pontotoc Junior High School employs 29.5 full-time teachers.

Finance

Compare Details The average total spent per student at Pontotoc Junior High School is $10,701.

Schooldigger Rankings:

Pontotoc Junior High School was not ranked this year due to insufficient test score data.

SchoolDigger ranks Pontotoc Junior High School 76^th of 264 Mississippi public middle schools. (See Pontotoc Junior High School in the ranking list.)

Pontotoc City Schools:

SchoolDigger ranks Pontotoc City Schools 28^th of 130 Mississippi school districts. (See district ranking list.)

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Rank History for Pontotoc Junior High School

Compare

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Middle Schools	MS State Percentile
2008	91.92	9^th	244	96.3%
2009	90.27	14^th	247	94.3%
2010	90.72	14^th	255	94.5%
2011	92.82	7^th	264	97.3%
2012	92.24	10^th	270	96.3%
2013	88.14	16^th	269	94.1%
2014	89.56	10^th	264	96.2%
2015	78.44	49^th	266	81.6%
2016	87.71	23^rd	260	91.2%
2017	84.58	33^rd	272	87.9%
2018	86.18	29^th	252	88.5%
2019	85.88	31^st	264	88.3%
2021	81.21	43^rd	257	83.3%
2022	76.70	52^nd	257	79.8%
2023	72.68	63^rd	243	74.1%
2024	68.30	76^th	264	71.2%

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 Pontotoc Junior High School

Compare

Year	White	African American	Asian	Hispanic	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Total
1990	293	148	0	0	n/a	n/a	441
1991	302	152	0	0	n/a	n/a	454
1992	304	162	2	0	n/a	n/a	468
1993	300	137	1	0	n/a	n/a	438
1994	318	139	1	0	n/a	n/a	458
1995	329	143	1	1	n/a	n/a	474
1996	329	143	1	1	n/a	n/a	474
1997	475	176	1	0	n/a	n/a	652
1998	465	183	2	0	n/a	n/a	650
1999	477	175	2	2	n/a	n/a	656
2000	494	192	3	4	n/a	n/a	693
2001	482	182	4	8	n/a	n/a	676
2002	510	189	4	12	n/a	n/a	715
2003	510	189	4	12	n/a	n/a	715
2004	508	204	3	12	n/a	n/a	727
2005	512	205	3	27	n/a	n/a	747
2006	524	224	2	30	n/a	n/a	780
2007	510	212	4	36	n/a	n/a	762
2008	494	198	3	34	n/a	n/a	729
2009	491	182	3	41	0	0	717
2010	245	85	2	12	0	1	345
2011	241	86	1	21	0	1	350
2012	232	97	2	19	0	3	353
2013	239	118	0	19	0	5	381
2014	214	102	0	29	0	5	350
2015	200	104	0	26	0	6	336
2016	211	110	0	29	0	5	355
2017	191	109	0	42	0	2	344
2018	213	103	0	37	0	6	359
2019	197	96	3	41	0	6	343
2020	186	104	5	56	0	9	360
2021	174	106	3	62	0	18	363
2022	197	107	1	81	0	18	404
2023	178	101	0	82	0	14	375

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 Pontotoc Junior High School

Compare

Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
1990	441	21.6	20.4	n/a
1991	454	24.0	18.9	n/a
1992	468	25.6	18.2	32.7
1993	438	23.8	18.4	34.5
1994	458	24.6	18.6	33.8
1995	474	27.2	17.4	33.8
1996	474	27.2	17.4	33.8
1997	652	33.8	19.3	34.8
1998	650	35.1	18.5	35.2
1999	656	35.5	18.5	41.5
2000	693	36.5	19.0	41.7
2001	676	39.5	17.1	43.5
2002	715	52.1	13.7	45.6
2003	715	52.1	13.7	45.6
2004	727	57.7	12.6	49.5
2005	747	56.5	13.2	51
2006	780	55.4	14.1	51.7
2007	762	53.2	14.3	54.9
2008	729	54.3	13.4	53.9
2009	717	56.8	12.6	56.9
2010	345	33.0	10.4	61.2
2011	350	37.0	9.4	59.7
2012	353	34.1	10.3	61.2
2013	381	34.3	11.0	63.5
2014	350	26.8	13.0	67.4
2015	336	23.0	14.6	63.7
2016	355	24.0	14.7	59.7
2017	344	24.6	13.9	67.2
2018	359	26.5	13.5	69.4
2019	343	25.4	13.4	67.1
2020	360	26.9	13.3	71.4
2021	363	27.6	13.1	99.2
2022	404	28.2	14.3	99.3
2023	375	29.5	12.7	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 Pontotoc Junior High School

Compare

Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
1990	441	21.6	20.4	n/a
1991	454	24.0	18.9	n/a
1992	468	25.6	18.2	32.7
1993	438	23.8	18.4	34.5
1994	458	24.6	18.6	33.8
1995	474	27.2	17.4	33.8
1996	474	27.2	17.4	33.8
1997	652	33.8	19.3	34.8
1998	650	35.1	18.5	35.2
1999	656	35.5	18.5	41.5
2000	693	36.5	19.0	41.7
2001	676	39.5	17.1	43.5
2002	715	52.1	13.7	45.6
2003	715	52.1	13.7	45.6
2004	727	57.7	12.6	49.5
2005	747	56.5	13.2	51
2006	780	55.4	14.1	51.7
2007	762	53.2	14.3	54.9
2008	729	54.3	13.4	53.9
2009	717	56.8	12.6	56.9
2010	345	33.0	10.4	61.2
2011	350	37.0	9.4	59.7
2012	353	34.1	10.3	61.2
2013	381	34.3	11.0	63.5
2014	350	26.8	13.0	67.4
2015	336	23.0	14.6	63.7
2016	355	24.0	14.7	59.7
2017	344	24.6	13.9	67.2
2018	359	26.5	13.5	69.4
2019	343	25.4	13.4	67.1
2020	360	26.9	13.3	71.4
2021	363	27.6	13.1	99.2
2022	404	28.2	14.3	99.3
2023	375	29.5	12.7	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 Pontotoc Junior High School

Year	Total Expenditures Per Pupil
2017	$7,904
2018	$8,548
2019	$9,679
2020	$9,275
2021	$8,928
2022	$10,701

Data source: Mississippi Department of Education

Pre and Post Pandemic Data

Impact of COVID-19 on Pontotoc Junior 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 31^st of 264 Middle schools	Ranks 63^rd of 243 Middle schools	14.2%

Test Scores

	% proficient Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)	% proficient Post pandemic (2022-2023)	Change (%)
7th Grade English Language Arts (Pontotoc Junior High School)	48.5	38.6	9.9%
7th Grade English Language Arts (Pontotoc City Schools)	48.5	38.6	9.9%
7th Grade English Language Arts (Mississippi)	39	40.2	1.2%
7th Grade Mathematics (Pontotoc Junior High School)	70.8	69	1.8%
7th Grade Mathematics (Pontotoc City Schools)	70.8	69	1.8%
7th Grade Mathematics (Mississippi)	51.1	55.6	4.5%
8th Grade English Language Arts (Pontotoc Junior High School)	45.8	42.3	3.5%
8th Grade English Language Arts (Pontotoc City Schools)	45.8	42.3	3.5%
8th Grade English Language Arts (Mississippi)	35.5	40.5	5%
8th Grade Mathematics (Pontotoc Junior High School)	65.7	58.5	7.2%
8th Grade Mathematics (Pontotoc City Schools)	65.7	58.5	7.2%
8th Grade Mathematics (Mississippi)	44.8	46.1	1.3%
8th Grade Science (Pontotoc Junior High School)	70.1	63.2	6.9%
8th Grade Science (Pontotoc City Schools)	70.1	63.2	6.9%
8th Grade Science (Mississippi)	52.7	53.3	0.6%
End of Course Algebra I (Pontotoc Junior High School)	100	100
End of Course Algebra I (Pontotoc City Schools)	44.7	60.7	16%
End of Course Algebra I (Mississippi)	49.3	65.8	16.5%

Student Body

	Number of students Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)	Number of students Post pandemic (2022-2023)	Change (%)
Total Students	343	375	9.3%
African American	96	101	5.2%
American Indian	0	0
Asian	3	0	100%
Hispanic	41	82	100%
Pacific Islander	0	0
White	197	178	9.6%
Two or More Races	6	14	133.3%
% Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients	67.1%	99.2%	32.1%

Schools Near Pontotoc Junior High 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
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
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
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
Tupelo Middle School	Public	7-8	1009 Varsity Drive	Tupelo	38801	Lee County	Tupelo Public School District	No	No	No	No	(662) 840-8780	1,080	80	13.5	99.7%	381 (35.3%)	536 (49.6%)	65 (6.0%)	17 (1.6%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	81 (7.5%)	78.3	51^st of 264 public middle schools	80.7%		76.8	50^th of 243 public middle schools	79.4%	1			52.2	50.2			66.6	67.1	100.0		67.6	$10,269
Milam Elementary School	Public	6	720 West Jefferson	Tupelo	38804	Lee County	Tupelo Public School District	No	No	No	No	(662) 841-8920	557	36	15.6	99.5%	183 (32.9%)	297 (53.3%)	32 (5.7%)	19 (3.4%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	26 (4.7%)								(n/a)		48.9				58.9						$10,912
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
Shannon Middle School	Public	6-8	232 Cherry Street	Shannon	38868	Lee County	Lee County School District	No	No	No	Yes	(662) 767-3986	202	20	10.2	100.0%	70 (34.7%)	122 (60.4%)	8 (4.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (1.0%)	33	177^th of 264 public middle schools	33.0%		33.7	156^th of 243 public middle schools	35.8%	21		26.8	35.9	34.4		28.4	56.3	29.9			50.0	$13,486
Plantersville Middle School	Public	5-8	2657 Main St.	Plantersville	38862	Lee County	Lee County School District	No	No	No	Yes	(662) 842-4690	274	24	11.2	100.0%	14 (5.1%)	230 (83.9%)	19 (6.9%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	11 (4.0%)	16.2	227^th of 264 public middle schools	14.0%		19.9	200^th of 243 public middle schools	17.7%	27	26.0	16.4	9.7	21.6	22.3	36.0	24.2	47.0		54.7	40.8	$12,777

Frequently Asked Questions about Pontotoc Junior High School

How many students attend Pontotoc Junior High School?

In the 2022-23 school year, 375 students attended Pontotoc Junior High School.

What is the racial makeup of Pontotoc Junior High School?

Students at Pontotoc Junior High School are 47% White, 27% African American, 22% Hispanic, 4% Two or more races.

What district is Pontotoc Junior High School in?

Pontotoc City Schools

Is Pontotoc Junior High School a good school?

Pontotoc Junior High School ranks 76^th of 264 Mississippi middle schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 4 stars out of 5.

What high school do graduates of Pontotoc Junior High School attend?

Students who attend Pontotoc Junior High School usually go on to attend Pontotoc High 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.