Tupelo Middle School

Q: Is Tupelo Middle School a good school?

Tupelo Middle School ranks 51 st of 264 Mississippi middle schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 4 stars out of 5.

Summary:

Tupelo Middle School is a public middle school serving 1,080 students in grades 7-8 in the Tupelo Public School District in Tupelo, Mississippi. The school has a diverse student population that is predominantly African American (49.63%) and White (35.28%), and it has consistently ranked among the top middle schools in Mississippi with a 4-star rating from SchoolDigger.

Tupelo Middle School stands out for its exceptional academic performance, consistently outperforming the state average in proficiency rates for MAAP tests across all subjects and grade levels. For example, in the 2023-2024 school year, 52.2% of 7th graders and 50.2% of 8th graders were proficient or better in English Language Arts, compared to the state averages of 40.8% and 42%, respectively. In mathematics, 66.6% of 7th graders and 67.1% of 8th graders were proficient or better, compared to the state averages of 57.2% and 55.3%. The school also stands out with an exceptional performance in Algebra I, with 100% of students proficient or better in the 2023-2024 and 2021-2022 school years, significantly higher than the Tupelo Public School District and the state averages.

While Tupelo Middle School is performing well overall, it faces significant socioeconomic challenges, with nearly 100% of its students qualifying for free or reduced-price lunch. This suggests that the school is serving a predominantly low-income population, which can present additional challenges in terms of student support and resources. However, the school's diverse student population and its ability to outperform many of its nearby counterparts, such as Pontotoc Middle School and Okolona Middle School, make it an interesting case study for understanding the factors that contribute to educational success in a challenging socioeconomic environment.

Detail:

Public 7-8

1009 Varsity Drive
Tupelo, MS 38801

(662) 840-8780

District: Tupelo Public School District

SchoolDigger Rank:
51^st of 264 Mississippi Middle Schools

Per Pupil Expenditures: $10,269

Students who attend Tupelo Middle School usually attend:

High:

Tupelo High School

Feeder schools for Tupelo Middle School:

Elementary:	Carver Elementary School
	Joyner Elementary School
	Lawhon Elementary School
	Lawndale Elementary School
	More...
	Parkway Elementary School
	Pierce Street Elementary School
	Rankin Elementary School
	Thomas Street Elementary School

Student/teacher ratio: 13.6

Number of students: 1,062

Racial breakdown:

African American:

52.5%

White:

32.9%

Hispanic:

6.4%

Free/discounted lunch recipients: 64.7%

See top rated Mississippi middle schools

Compare Tupelo Middle School to nearby middle schools!

Performance Trends

Compare Details Tupelo Middle School ranks better than 80.7% of middle schools in Mississippi. (See more...)

Compare Details In 2024 the calculated Average Standard Score was 78.34. (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 (52.5%), White (32.9%), Hispanic (6.4%). (See more...)

Compare Details 64.7% of students are receiving a free or discounted lunch. (See more...)

Teachers

Compare Details The student/teacher ratio at Tupelo Middle School is 13.6. (See more...)

Compare Tupelo Middle School employs 77.8 full-time teachers.

Finance

Compare Details The average total spent per student at Tupelo Middle School is $10,269.

Schooldigger Rankings:

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

SchoolDigger ranks Tupelo Middle School 51^st of 264 Mississippi public middle schools. (See Tupelo Middle School in the ranking list.)

Tupelo Public School District:

SchoolDigger ranks Tupelo Public School District 45^th of 130 Mississippi school districts. (See district ranking list.)

Average Parent Rating:

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Rank History for Tupelo Middle School

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Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Middle Schools	MS State Percentile
2008	76.80	46^th	244	81.1%
2009	74.69	52^nd	247	78.9%
2010	71.39	61^st	255	76.1%
2011	55.87	125^th	264	52.7%
2012	51.90	135^th	270	50.0%
2013	61.39	109^th	269	59.5%
2014	69.41	67^th	264	74.6%
2015	83.32	35^th	266	86.8%
2016	75.92	55^th	260	78.8%
2017	77.67	48^th	272	82.4%
2018	75.81	54^th	252	78.6%
2019	79.10	47^th	264	82.2%
2021	75.68	52^nd	257	79.8%
2022	81.77	35^th	257	86.4%
2023	76.81	50^th	243	79.4%
2024	78.34	51^st	264	80.7%

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 student
Friday, January 22, 2021

not good

Enrollment information for Tupelo Middle School

Compare

Year	White	African American	Asian	Hispanic	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Total
1993	734	365	0	3	0	n/a	n/a	1102
1994	736	347	0	2	0	n/a	n/a	1085
1995	701	343	0	6	0	n/a	n/a	1050
1996	701	343	0	6	0	n/a	n/a	1050
1997	708	341	6	3	0	n/a	n/a	1058
1998	697	373	8	0	0	n/a	n/a	1078
1999	716	360	8	4	0	n/a	n/a	1088
2000	731	356	13	6	1	n/a	n/a	1107
2001	697	407	12	9	1	n/a	n/a	1126
2002	666	459	19	11	0	n/a	n/a	1155
2003	666	459	19	11	0	n/a	n/a	1155
2004	658	496	16	11	0	n/a	n/a	1181
2005	601	519	16	15	0	n/a	n/a	1151
2006	566	524	14	15	0	n/a	n/a	1119
2007	517	546	16	23	0	n/a	n/a	1102
2008	490	567	14	21	0	n/a	n/a	1092
2009	531	549	19	24	0	0	0	1123
2010	537	543	26	26	0	0	4	1136
2011	531	491	24	33	1	0	4	1084
2012	486	492	23	30	1	0	6	1038
2013	504	554	27	29	0	0	13	1127
2014	466	575	26	36	0	0	23	1126
2015	463	632	22	44	0	0	15	1176
2016	416	550	18	55	0	0	21	1060
2017	397	490	22	59	0	0	28	996
2018	385	517	26	59	0	0	31	1018
2019	377	514	25	67	0	1	23	1007
2020	355	546	28	90	0	1	43	1063
2021	327	612	30	87	0	0	48	1104
2022	385	576	21	72	0	0	64	1118
2023	381	536	17	65	0	0	81	1080
2024	349	558	24	68	0	0	63	1062

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 Tupelo Middle School

Compare

Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
1993	1102	62.4	17.7	27.3
1994	1085	61.7	17.6	28.5
1995	1050	66.9	15.7	31
1996	1050	66.9	15.7	31
1997	1058	64.5	16.4	31.9
1998	1078	61.4	17.6	32.6
1999	1088	68.7	15.8	38
2000	1107	71.3	15.5	38.9
2001	1126	74.8	15.1	42.1
2002	1155	116.6	9.9	44.2
2003	1155	116.6	9.9	44.2
2004	1181	124.1	9.5	43.4
2005	1151	98.2	11.7	49.3
2006	1119	97.5	11.5	53.2
2007	1102	95.7	11.5	52.3
2008	1092	100.9	10.8	56
2009	1123	95.2	11.8	56.1
2010	1136	98.3	11.5	53.4
2011	1084	98.9	10.9	52.1
2012	1038	104.1	9.9	54.4
2013	1127	106.1	10.6	59.4
2014	1126	97.6	11.5	61.6
2015	1176	90.0	13.0	60.4
2016	1060	87.0	12.1	62.5
2017	996	75.1	13.2	59.4
2018	1018	74.9	13.5	58.9
2019	1007	83.4	12.0	59.6
2020	1063	90.5	11.7	60.4
2021	1104	97.6	11.3	99.7
2022	1118	101.0	11.0	99.7
2023	1080	79.8	13.5	99.7
2024	1062	77.8	13.6	64.7

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 Tupelo Middle School

Compare

Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
1993	1102	62.4	17.7	27.3
1994	1085	61.7	17.6	28.5
1995	1050	66.9	15.7	31
1996	1050	66.9	15.7	31
1997	1058	64.5	16.4	31.9
1998	1078	61.4	17.6	32.6
1999	1088	68.7	15.8	38
2000	1107	71.3	15.5	38.9
2001	1126	74.8	15.1	42.1
2002	1155	116.6	9.9	44.2
2003	1155	116.6	9.9	44.2
2004	1181	124.1	9.5	43.4
2005	1151	98.2	11.7	49.3
2006	1119	97.5	11.5	53.2
2007	1102	95.7	11.5	52.3
2008	1092	100.9	10.8	56
2009	1123	95.2	11.8	56.1
2010	1136	98.3	11.5	53.4
2011	1084	98.9	10.9	52.1
2012	1038	104.1	9.9	54.4
2013	1127	106.1	10.6	59.4
2014	1126	97.6	11.5	61.6
2015	1176	90.0	13.0	60.4
2016	1060	87.0	12.1	62.5
2017	996	75.1	13.2	59.4
2018	1018	74.9	13.5	58.9
2019	1007	83.4	12.0	59.6
2020	1063	90.5	11.7	60.4
2021	1104	97.6	11.3	99.7
2022	1118	101.0	11.0	99.7
2023	1080	79.8	13.5	99.7
2024	1062	77.8	13.6	64.7

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 Tupelo Middle School

Year	Total Expenditures Per Pupil
2017	$7,959
2018	$8,373
2019	$8,211
2020	$9,151
2021	$10,157
2022	$10,268

Data source: Mississippi Department of Education

Pre and Post Pandemic Data

Impact of COVID-19 on Tupelo 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 47^th of 264 Middle schools	Ranks 50^th of 243 Middle schools	2.8%

Test Scores

	% proficient Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)	% proficient Post pandemic (2022-2023)	Change (%)
7th Grade English Language Arts (Tupelo Middle School)	48.5	46.7	1.8%
7th Grade English Language Arts (Tupelo Public School District)	48.5	46.7	1.8%
7th Grade English Language Arts (Mississippi)	39	40.2	1.2%
7th Grade Mathematics (Tupelo Middle School)	65	69.1	4.1%
7th Grade Mathematics (Tupelo Public School District)	65	69.1	4.1%
7th Grade Mathematics (Mississippi)	51.1	55.6	4.5%
8th Grade English Language Arts (Tupelo Middle School)	42.1	50.3	8.2%
8th Grade English Language Arts (Tupelo Public School District)	42.1	50.3	8.2%
8th Grade English Language Arts (Mississippi)	35.5	40.5	5%
8th Grade Mathematics (Tupelo Middle School)	58.5	53.1	5.4%
8th Grade Mathematics (Tupelo Public School District)	58.5	53.1	5.4%
8th Grade Mathematics (Mississippi)	44.8	46.1	1.3%
8th Grade Science (Tupelo Middle School)	61.3	59.8	1.5%
8th Grade Science (Tupelo Public School District)	61.3	59.8	1.5%
8th Grade Science (Mississippi)	52.7	53.3	0.6%
End of Course Algebra I (Tupelo Middle School)	91.1	99.1	8%
End of Course Algebra I (Tupelo Public School District)	54.9	73.3	18.4%
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	1007	1080	7.2%
African American	514	536	4.3%
American Indian	0	0
Asian	25	17	32%
Hispanic	67	65	3%
Pacific Islander	1	0	100%
White	377	381	1.1%
Two or More Races	23	81	252.2%
% Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients	59.6%	99.7%	40.1%

Schools Near Tupelo 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
Tupelo Middle School	Public	7-8	1009 Varsity Drive	Tupelo	38801	Lee County	Tupelo Public School District	No	No	No	No	(662) 840-8780	1,062	78	13.6	64.7%	349 (32.9%)	558 (52.5%)	68 (6.4%)	24 (2.3%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	63 (5.9%)	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	542	39	13.8	66.2%	174 (32.1%)	284 (52.4%)	49 (9.0%)	11 (2.0%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	23 (4.2%)								(n/a)		48.9				58.9						$10,912
Plantersville Middle School	Public	5-8	2657 Main St.	Plantersville	38862	Lee County	Lee County School District	No	No	No	Yes	(662) 842-4690	221	25	8.9	71.9%	11 (5.0%)	183 (82.8%)	12 (5.4%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	15 (6.8%)	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
Mooreville Middle School	Public	6-8	964 Cr 1409	Mooreville	38857	Lee County	Lee County School District	No	No	No	No	(662) 680-4894	351	26	13.2	47.6%	301 (85.8%)	26 (7.4%)	13 (3.7%)	3 (0.9%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	8 (2.3%)	78.2	52^nd of 264 public middle schools	80.3%		77.3	48^th of 243 public middle schools	80.2%	4		47.1	45.9	46.1		63.3	72.8	81.7			68.7	$9,392
Shannon Middle School	Public	6-8	232 Cherry Street	Shannon	38868	Lee County	Lee County School District	No	No	No	Yes	(662) 767-3986	201	20	9.8	56.2%	68 (33.8%)	119 (59.2%)	9 (4.5%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	5 (2.5%)	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
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	165	12	13.7	84.8%	111 (67.3%)	46 (27.9%)	5 (3.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	3 (1.8%)								(n/a)			26.5	14.1			39.7	34.6			43.6
Nettleton Elementary School	Public	4-6	170 Mullen Avenue	Nettleton	38858	Itawamba County	Nettleton School District	No	No	No	Yes	(662) 963-7406	236	17	13.7	83.1%	144 (61.0%)	88 (37.3%)	2 (0.8%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (0.8%)								(n/a)												$9,238
Guntown Middle School	Public	6-8	1539 Main St.	Guntown	38849	Lee County	Lee County School District	No	No	No	No	(662) 348-8801	692	52	13.3	47.8%	523 (75.6%)	116 (16.8%)	15 (2.2%)	11 (1.6%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	27 (3.9%)	64.4	89^th of 264 public middle schools	66.3%		51.6	109^th of 243 public middle schools	55.1%	20		44.1	44.4	46.8		52.4	54.1	62.8			61.9	$9,756
Pontotoc Middle School	Public	5-6	135 Education Drive	Pontotoc	38863	Pontotoc County	Pontotoc City Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(662) 489-6056	326	24	13.4	69.6%	171 (52.5%)	85 (26.1%)	44 (13.5%)	7 (2.1%)	1 (0.3%)	1 (0.3%)	17 (5.2%)								(n/a)	46.0	44.0			58.4	72.9				71.3		$9,585
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	355	30	11.8	76.1%	163 (45.9%)	102 (28.7%)	69 (19.4%)	2 (0.6%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	19 (5.4%)	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

Frequently Asked Questions about Tupelo Middle School

What district is Tupelo Middle School in?

Tupelo Public School District

What high school do graduates of Tupelo Middle School attend?

Students who attend Tupelo Middle School usually go on to attend Tupelo High School

What is the racial makeup of Tupelo Middle School?

Students at Tupelo Middle School are 53% African American, 33% White, 6% Hispanic, 6% Two or more races, 2% Asian.

How many students attend Tupelo Middle School?

In the 2023-24 school year, 1,062 students attended Tupelo Middle School.

Is Tupelo Middle School a good school?

Tupelo Middle School ranks 51^st of 264 Mississippi middle schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 4 stars out of 5.

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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.