Total enrollment
22,454
-1,117 (-5%) vs SY 2017-18
Rankin County
Mississippi · Public K-12
Public K-12 schools in Rankin County number 34 per the most recent NCES data, averaging about 660 students per campus. By grade band, the county runs 19 elementary, 4 middle, and 9 high schools.
7-year change in Rankin County
SY 2017-18 vs SY 2024-25School count
32
-2 (-6%) vs SY 2017-18
% White
57%
was 67%
% Hispanic
7%
was 4%
% Black
29%
was 25%
% Asian
1%
was 2%
Source: NCES Common Core of Data, enrollment-weighted demographic averages
Residents
158,854
all ages · ACS 5-yr
Schools
34
3 districts
Enrollment
22,454
students · NCES CCD
Median income
$79,357
Above Mississippi avg
Free/reduced lunch
49.5%
Below Mississippi avg
Elementary
19
10,614 students
Middle
4
4,007 students
High
9
7,833 students
Combined / other
2
schools
LARGEST DISTRICT
Rankin County School District
18,196 students · 3 districts in Rankin County
County vs. school enrollment demographics
Left bar is the racial makeup of Rankin 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+
33.5%
adults 25+
Poverty rate
6.1%
ACS 5-year
Unemployment
4.4%
civilian labor
Median age
40
22.4% under 18
Test scores in Rankin County
Latest 2023-24 ELA proficiency, 32 schools ranked. Mississippi state average: 46.0%.
Top 5 schools (ELA)
- Steens Creek Elementary· 85.0%
- Northshore Elementary· 84.2%
- Florence Elementary· 78.1%
- Brandon Elementary· 73.1%
- Pearl Lower Elementary· 72.3%
Lowest 5 schools (ELA)
- Pelahatchie High School· 37.7%
- Pearl Jr High School· 43.8%
- Pelahatchie Elementary· 45.9%
- Puckett High School· 46.1%
- Richland High School· 50.5%
| Name | City | Level | Grades | Enrollment | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Northwest High School | Flowood | High | 09-12 | 1,855 | · |
| Brandon High School | Brandon | High | 09-12 | 1,609 | · |
| Northwest Middle School | Flowood | Middle | 06-08 | 1,352 | · |
| Pearl High School | Pearl | High | 09-13 | 1,278 | · |
| Brandon Middle School | Brandon | Middle | 06-08 | 1,155 | · |
| Pearl Jr High School | Pearl | Middle | 06-08 | 944 | · |
| Rouse Elementary | Brandon | Elementary | PK-01 | 798 | · |
| Pearl Lower Elementary | Pearl | Elementary | PK-01 | 763 | · |
| Brandon Elementary | Brandon | Elementary | 04-05 | 743 | · |
| StoneBridge Elementary | Brandon | Elementary | 02-03 | 742 | · |
| Richland High School | Richland | High | 07-12 | 731 | · |
| Florence High School | Florence | High | 09-12 | 718 | · |
| Northside Elementary | Pearl | Elementary | 02-03 | 665 | · |
| Pearl Upper School | Pearl | Elementary | 04-05 | 608 | · |
| Steens Creek Elementary | Florence | Elementary | PK-02 | 582 | · |
| Oakdale Elementary | Brandon | Elementary | PK-05 | 566 | · |
| Florence Middle School | Florence | Middle | 06-08 | 556 | · |
| Pisgah Elementary | Brandon | Elementary | PK-06 | 556 | · |
| Northshore Elementary | Brandon | Elementary | PK-05 | 539 | · |
| Florence Elementary | Florence | Elementary | 03-05 | 537 | · |
| McLaurin Elementary | Florence | Elementary | PK-06 | 504 | · |
| Highland Bluff Elementary | Brandon | Elementary | PK-05 | 491 | · |
| Pisgah High School | Brandon | High | 07-12 | 482 | · |
| McLaurin High School | Florence | High | 07-12 | 481 | · |
| Richland Upper Elementary | Richland | Elementary | 03-06 | 480 | · |
| Northwest Elementary | Flowood | Elementary | PK-05 | 477 | · |
| Flowood Elementary | Flowood | Elementary | PK-05 | 458 | · |
| Pelahatchie Elementary | Pelahatchie | Elementary | PK-06 | 385 | · |
| Richland Elementary | Richland | Elementary | PK-02 | 369 | · |
| Puckett Elementary | Puckett | Elementary | PK-06 | 351 | · |
| Puckett High School | Puckett | High | 07-12 | 343 | · |
| Pelahatchie High School | Pelahatchie | High | 07-12 | 336 | · |
| Learning Center | Brandon | Combined | KG-12 | 0 | · |
| C B NOBLIN SCHOOL | Whitfield | Combined | M-M | · | · |
Cities in Rankin County
About Rankin County
Rankin County is a middle-population county of about 158,854 residents in Mississippi. Its public-school system educates approximately 22,454 students across 34 schools.
Stepping back, census numbers show the median household earns about $79,357 a year, roughly 34% of adults have completed at least a four-year degree, and roughly 6% of residents live below the federal poverty line. That income level is 59% above the Mississippi median.
Looking at the level breakdown, Rankin County covers 19 elementary schools (10,614 students), 4 middle schools (4,007), 9 high schools (7,833), and 2 combined or other schools.
Rankin County School District is the biggest district by enrollment, covering about 18,196 students across Rankin County.
Looking at the last 7 years. Across the same 7-year window, public-school enrollment contracted 5%: 23,571 students in SY 2017-18 versus 22,454 in SY 2024-25. Over that span, Rankin County shed 2 schools, going from 34 to 32. On the demographic side, White enrollment moved from 67% to 57% over the same window.
On allk12, the community for Rankin County discusses sports rivalries, cross-district programs, and shared facilities. Discussions cut across districts, schools, and grade levels.
Frequently asked questions
Rankin County school rankings
DATA · Census ACS 5-year · NCES Common Core of Data