Total enrollment
1,433
-44 (-3%) vs SY 2020-21
Perry County
Mississippi · Public K-12
Perry County, Mississippi comes in at 8 public K-12 schools on the latest counts, totaling roughly 1,433 students, with a county median household income near $49,634. The level mix is 3 elementary, 1 middle, and 4 high schools.
4-year change in Perry County
SY 2020-21 vs SY 2024-25School count
6
0 (0%) vs SY 2020-21
Source: NCES Common Core of Data, enrollment-weighted demographic averages
How Perry County ranks
Among counties| Measure | This county | In Mississippi | In the US |
|---|---|---|---|
| State test proficiency ranked highest first | 52.0% | #41 of 73 | N/A |
| Enrollment ranked largest first | 1,433 | #64 of 73 | #2,519 of 2,745 |
| Number of schools ranked most first | 6 | #52 of 73 | N/A |
| Students per teacher ranked fewest first | 12.1:1 | #10 of 73 | #569 of 2,655 |
| Free or reduced-price lunch share ranked highest first | 74.2% | #47 of 73 | #621 of 2,526 |
| Diversity index ranked most diverse first | 54.2% | #32 of 70 | #883 of 2,707 |
Counties need at least 3 schools and 1,000 students to be ranked. Test proficiency is ranked within the state only, since each state gives a different test. Each rank links to the full list.
Perry County school rankings
Residents
11,449
all ages · ACS 5-yr
Schools
8
2 districts
Enrollment
1,433
students · NCES CCD
Median income
$49,634
Below Mississippi avg
Free/reduced lunch
74.2%
Below Mississippi avg
Elementary
3
712 students
Middle
1
178 students
High
4
543 students
Combined / other
0
schools
LARGEST DISTRICT
Perry County School District
847 students · 2 districts in Perry County
County vs. school enrollment demographics
Left bar is the racial makeup of Perry County residents (Census ACS 5-year). Right bar is the enrollment-weighted makeup of public schools in the county (NCES CCD). NCES systematically under-reports Hispanic, Pacific Islander, and Native American enrollment for many schools; where the resident share is meaningful but the reported school share is zero, we mark the school bar "not reported".
County residents
School enrollment
Bachelor's+
12.9%
adults 25+
Poverty rate
16.6%
ACS 5-year
Unemployment
2.0%
civilian labor
Median age
43
21.9% under 18
Test scores in Perry County
Latest 2024-25 ELA proficiency, 6 schools ranked. Mississippi state average: 46.0%.
Top 5 schools (ELA)
- Runnelstown School· 43.0%
- Perry Central Middle School· 42.8%
- Richton Elementary School· 39.0%
- Richton High School· 36.7%
- South Perry Elementary School· 36.0%
Lowest 5 schools (ELA)
- Perry Central High School· 34.4%
- South Perry Elementary School· 36.0%
- Richton High School· 36.7%
- Richton Elementary School· 39.0%
- Perry Central Middle School· 42.8%
| Name | City | Level | Grades | Enrollment | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Richton Elementary School | Richton | Elementary | KG-06 | 305 | · |
| Richton High School | Richton | High | 07-12 | 281 | · |
| Perry Central High School | New Augusta | High | 09-12 | 262 | · |
| South Perry Elementary School | Beaumont | Elementary | KG-05 | 234 | · |
| Perry Central Middle School | New Augusta | Middle | 06-08 | 178 | · |
| Runnelstown School | Petal | Elementary | KG-05 | 173 | · |
| PERRY CO VOC COMPLEX | New Augusta | High | 09-12 | 0 | · |
| PERRY COUNTY ALTERNATIVE CENTER | New Augusta | High | 05-12 | 0 | · |
Cities in Perry County
About Perry County
In Mississippi, Perry County is a low-population county of about 11,449 residents. 8 public schools across the county hosts about 1,433 students between them.
Looking at the broader picture, census numbers show median household income runs near $49,634, 13% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, and the poverty rate is around 17%.
For a sense of the school types, Perry County consists of 3 elementary schools (712 students), 1 middle school (178), and 4 high schools (543).
Perry County School District is the biggest district by enrollment, covering about 847 students across Perry County.
Trend over the past 4 years. Combined enrollment now sits at 1,433 students, contracted 3% from the 1,477 reported in SY 2020-21.
In the discussion threads here, the community for Perry County discusses comparison threads between local schools and program reviews. Anyone with firsthand knowledge of these schools is welcome to weigh in.
Frequently asked questions
DATA · Census ACS 5-year · NCES Common Core of Data