Total enrollment
2,797
-370 (-12%) vs SY 2020-21
Simpson County
Mississippi · Public K-12
On the public-school side, Simpson County (Mississippi) totals 9 K-12 schools and roughly 3,023 students. Median household income is around $56,381. By grade band, the county runs 3 elementary, 2 middle, and 3 high schools.
4-year change in Simpson County
SY 2020-21 vs SY 2024-25School count
6
-1 (-14%) vs SY 2020-21
Source: NCES Common Core of Data, enrollment-weighted demographic averages
How Simpson County ranks
Among counties| Measure | This county | In Mississippi | In the US |
|---|---|---|---|
| State test proficiency ranked highest first | 42.9% | #58 of 73 | N/A |
| Enrollment ranked largest first | 3,023 | #42 of 73 | #1,836 of 2,745 |
| Number of schools ranked most first | 7 | #47 of 73 | N/A |
| Students per teacher ranked fewest first | 15.0:1 | #62 of 73 | #1,780 of 2,655 |
| Free or reduced-price lunch share ranked highest first | 87.7% | #31 of 73 | #339 of 2,526 |
| Diversity index ranked most diverse first | 55.2% | #27 of 70 | #835 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.
Simpson County school rankings
Residents
25,691
all ages · ACS 5-yr
Schools
9
2 districts
Enrollment
3,023
students · NCES CCD
Median income
$56,381
Above Mississippi avg
Free/reduced lunch
87.7%
Above Mississippi avg
Elementary
3
1,511 students
Middle
2
486 students
High
3
1,026 students
Combined / other
1
schools
LARGEST DISTRICT
Simpson County School District
2,797 students · 2 districts in Simpson County
County vs. school enrollment demographics
Left bar is the racial makeup of Simpson 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+
16.7%
adults 25+
Poverty rate
15.8%
ACS 5-year
Unemployment
4.4%
civilian labor
Median age
41
23.1% under 18
Test scores in Simpson County
Latest 2024-25 ELA proficiency, 6 schools ranked. Mississippi state average: 46.0%.
Top 5 schools (ELA)
- Simpson Central School· 37.2%
- Mendenhall Elementary School· 36.7%
- Magee Elementary School· 34.1%
- Magee High School· 29.2%
- Mendenhall High School· 24.9%
Lowest 5 schools (ELA)
- Magee Middle School· 22.3%
- Mendenhall High School· 24.9%
- Magee High School· 29.2%
- Magee Elementary School· 34.1%
- Mendenhall Elementary School· 36.7%
| Name | City | Level | Grades | Enrollment | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mendenhall High School | Mendenhall | High | 07-12 | 646 | · |
| Mendenhall Elementary School | Mendenhall | Elementary | PK-06 | 598 | · |
| Magee Elementary School | Magee | Elementary | KG-05 | 525 | · |
| Simpson Central School | Pinola | Elementary | KG-08 | 388 | · |
| Magee High School | Magee | High | 09-12 | 380 | · |
| Magee Middle School | Magee | Middle | 06-08 | 260 | · |
| MENDENHALL JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL | Mendenhall | Middle | 06-08 | 226 | · |
| Simpson County Achievement Center | Magee | Combined | KG-12 | 0 | · |
| Simpson County Career and Technical Center | Mendenhall | High | 09-12 | 0 | · |
Cities in Simpson County
About Simpson County
In Mississippi, Simpson County is a rural-scale county of about 25,691 residents. 9 public schools across the county enrolls about 3,023 students between them.
Looking at the wider area, census numbers show typical household earnings sit around $56,381, about 17% of adults have a bachelor's degree or above, and the federal-poverty share is near 16%. That income level is 13% above the Mississippi median.
On the school-mix side, Simpson County spans 3 elementary schools (1,511 students), 2 middle schools (486), 3 high schools (1,026), and 1 combined or other schools.
The largest single district in Simpson County is Simpson County School District, which alone enrolls about 2,797 students.
Trend over the past 4 years. Total public-school enrollment in Simpson County has shrank 12% since SY 2020-21, moving from about 3,167 students to 2,797. Over that span, Simpson County lost 1 school, going from 7 to 6.
On allk12, the community for Simpson County discusses comparison threads between local schools and program reviews. Posts come from current and former families, staff, and alumni.
Frequently asked questions
DATA · Census ACS 5-year · NCES Common Core of Data