Mississippi

See which Mississippi high school earned the highest ranking from U.S. News list

Published

2 years ago

April 29, 2024

See which Mississippi high school earned the highest ranking from U.S. News list

For the second year in a row, Madison Central High School in Madison County ranked within the top 10 on the U.S. News Best High Schools list for the state of Mississippi.

The list studied data from nearly 18,000 public high schools in the nation, including traditional, magnet and charter public schools. The rankings are based on six different factors including graduation rate, college readiness and state assessment scores.

Nationally, the highest ranked Mississippi school is Ocean Springs High School, which earned a No. 682 national ranking.

Ocean Springs High School is the only Mississippi school in 2024 to break 1,000 on the rankings list. The next highest school, Lewisburg High School in Olive Branch, ranked 1,464.

Several other southern states broke the top 100 nationally. Alabama had one school at No. 21 nationally; Louisiana had one school at No. 49 and one school at No. 89; Tennessee had one school at No. 19 and one school at No. 48; Georgia had one school at No. 9.

The Mississippi coastal schools won out this year, earning five spots out of the state’s top 10.

Madison Central High makes top 10

Madison Central High ranked 10 on the 2024 list, the only Jackson Metro area school to break the top 10 in best high schools in Mississippi.

This ranking falls short of last year’s ranking by one; Madison Central held ninth place on the 2023 list.

In comparison to neighboring public schools, Madison Central earned first place in the Jackson Metro area.

Overall, Madison Central High School ranked No. 2,926 in the nation out of the nearly 18,000 ranked.

No Jackson Public Schools broke the top 10 for the Jackson Metro area.

The top 10 public high schools in Mississippi for the U.S. News 2024 list, in order from first place to 10th, are as follows:

Ocean Springs High School, Ocean Springs School District, No. 682 nationally
Lewisburg High School, Desoto County School District, No. 1,464 nationally
Hernando High School, Desoto County School District, No. 1,964 nationally
Pass Christian High School, Pass Christian Public School District, No. 2,028 nationally
Raleigh High School, Smith County School District, No. 2,034 nationally
Petal High School, Petal School District, No. 2,346 nationally
West Harrison High School, Harrison County School District, No. 2,678 nationally
Biloxi High School, Biloxi Public School District, No. 2,789 nationally
Long Beach Senior High School, Long Beach School District, No. 2,906 nationally
Madison Central High School, Madison County School District, No. 2,926 nationally

Compare to last year: See how Jackson area and state schools ranked in U.S. News and World Report rankings

Top 10 high schools in the Jackson Metro

The Jackson Metro area refers to the capital city and its surrounding counties, including Hinds, Madison, Rankin and Copiah among others.

Here are the top 10 schools in the Jackson Metro area, according to the U.S. News 2024 list, in order from first place to 10th:

Madison Central High School, Madison County School District, No. 10 in state, No. 2,926 nationally
Germantown High School, Madison County School District, No. 14 in state, No. 3,658 nationally
Brandon High School, Rankin County School District, No. 30 in state, No. 5,140 nationally
Clinton High School, Clinton Public School District, No. 32 in state, No. 5,337 nationally
Raymond High School, Hinds County School District, No. 37 in state, No. 5,885 nationally
Pearl High School, Pearl Public School District, No. 38 in state, No. 5,923 nationally
Northwest Rankin High School, Rankin County School District, No. 45 in state, No. 6,385 nationally
Terry High School, Hinds County School District, No. 72 in state, No. 8,527 nationally
McLaurin Attendance Center, Rankin County School District, No. 77 in state, No. 8,759 nationally
Wesson Attendance Center, Copiah County School District, No. 79 in state, No. 8,779 nationally

More in education news: Belhaven is first MS university to pair with Amazon for new curriculum. Read details here

Top high schools by district

Here are some top public schools in Jackson and Madison County by school district.

Jackson Public School District:

Some schools within the Jackson Public School District received a ranking between two values rather than a specific number placing.

Murrah High School, No. 104 in state, No. 10,321 nationally
Callaway High School, No. 106 in state, No. 10,354 nationally
Jim Hill High School, No. 118 in state, No. 10,854 nationally
Forest Hill High School, No. 142-229 in state, No. 13,242-17655 nationally
Lanier High School, No. 142-229 in state, No. 13,242-17655 nationally
Provine High School, No. 142-229 in state, No. 13,242-17655 nationally
Wingfield High School, No. 142-229 in state, No. 13,242-17655 nationally

In Dec. 2023, the Jackson Public School District voted to permanently close Wingfield High School, along with 10 other schools, when the current school year concludes.

More on Wingfield’s closure: Wingfield football coach, players describe the pain of learning of their school’s closing

Madison County School District:

Madison Central High School, No. 10 in state, No. 2,926 nationally
Germantown High School, No. 14 in state, No. 3,658 nationally
Ridgeland High School, No. 83 in state, No. 9,043 nationally
Velma Jackson High School, No. 117 in state, No. 10,847 nationally

Hattiesburg and its surrounding districts:

Lamar County School District, which covers schools in Hattiesburg and surrounding cities, had four schools ranked as follows:

Oak Grove High School, No. 15 in state, No. 3,667 nationally
Sumrall High School, No. 46 in state, No. 6,427 nationally
Lumberton High School, No. 99 in state, No. 9,959 nationally
Purvis High School, No. 109 in state, No. 10,491 nationally

The only Hattiesburg Public School District school ranked by the U.S. News for 2024 is Hattiesburg High School, which came in at No. 53 in the state and No. 6,828 nationally.

Forrest County School District also had one school ranked. North Forrest High School ranked No. 66 in the state and No. 7,949 nationally.

Neighboring district Petal School District also had only one school ranked, Petal High School, which earned 6th place in the state’s top 10 and ranked No. 2,346 nationally.

Got a news tip? Contact Mary Boyte at mboyte@jackson.gannett.com

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Mississippi

What ‘unthinkable’ season, first WCWS trip meant to Mississippi State softball

Published

2 hours ago

May 30, 2026

Press Room

What ‘unthinkable’ season, first WCWS trip meant to Mississippi State softball

OKLAHOMA CITY — Taryne Mowatt-McKinney called Mississippi State softball’s first Women’s College World Series appearance back in the fall.

Coach Samantha Ricketts said the Bulldogs’ pitching coach walked into her office in October to deliver her bold prediction.

“She said, ‘If our pitching continues to progress the way it is, we’re going to the World Series,’” Ricketts said. “We may have looked at her like she may have been a little crazy.”

But Mowatt-McKinney wasn’t crazy, and the Bulldogs delivered, making it to the WCWS for the first time in program history.

That experience was short-lived as the Bulldogs (43-21) lost 4-0 to No. 2 seed Texas (48-12) in an elimination game at Devon Park on May 29, ending their season.

The Bulldogs went 0-2 in the WCWS and did not score a run.

“Could not be more proud of this group for what they’ve done for Mississippi State softball and for each other, the way they’ve represented this team, this program, our community,” Ricketts said. “… They believed that Mississippi State could be here on this stage when nobody else did.”

Ricketts noted the team never wavered in its belief even when things got difficult. Mississippi State went 9-15 in SEC play, finishing 10th in the conference. The Bulldogs only won two of their SEC series and fell out of hosting contention for regionals in late April.

As a road team, MSU made it out of the Eugene Regional to super regionals. The Bulldogs upset No. 3 seed Oklahoma on its home field to be the only unseeded team at this year’s WCWS.

“Really we talked all year long that our roster was built for May,” Ricketts said. “With how difficult our SEC schedule was, the lessons we learned along the way, we knew that postseason it’s 0-0 for anyone. If we could continue to trust in the work that we had done, we could really do something special here.”

The trip to the WCWS was especially meaningful for seniors Nadia Barbary, Morgan Bernardini and Kiarra Sells. All three began their careers in Starkville. They took the program from not even making the NCAA Tournament their freshman year to the WCWS in their final season.

“It meant the world to us,” Sells said. “Even getting here was such a big deal to all of us. Honestly, we’re grateful to have been on this stage, to have worked our butts off to be here, to be a Mississippi State Bulldog. It was such a blessing.”

The team’s accomplishments also resonated with players who started their careers at other schools. Pitcher Peja Goold, a transfer from Chattanooga, reflected positively on what she’d gained from this final year.

Goold finished with a 2.50 ERA, 182 strikeouts and eight shutouts. She was picked in the second round of the AUSL draft by the Oklahoma Sparks.

“I’m just so grateful that Mississippi State gave me the chance to be here and the opportunity to play on this stage,” she said. “… I chose Mississippi State, look where it brought me. That’s such a blessing and I’m so thankful that God placed me here and led me to them.”

During the team’s two WCWS games, not much went in the Bulldogs favor. They were shut out both times and run-ruled by Texas Tech in their first game. Still, the Bulldogs are walking out of Oklahoma City full of gratitude and pride for what they achieved in 2026.

“We did the unthinkable, making history throughout our whole season,” Bernardini said. “Yes, this sucks right now, but it’s like what a better way to end it at the end?”

Tia Reid covers Jackson State sports for the Clarion Ledger. Email her at treid@usatodayco.com and follow her on X @tiareid65.

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Mississippi

High school graduation photos in, near Jackson MS. Find your student

Published

12 hours ago

May 29, 2026

Press Room

High school graduation photos in, near Jackson MS. Find your student

Staff Reports
| Mississippi Clarion Ledger

High school graduation season has come to a close in Jackson, with Jackson Public Schools having finished their graduation ceremonies on May 27.

Madison County Schools held ceremonies May 15 and 16. Hinds County School District held its on May 19, and the Rankin County School District held ceremonies May 8 through May 18.

Following up on prom season, The Clarion Ledger photographed more than 25 ceremonies across the greater Jackson area, capturing both smiles and tears of joy, struts and dances across the stage, two new cars and many, many caps thrown in the air. Pyrotechnics, sunsets and excited family members brightened ceremonies and high school chorales lifted spirits.

Take a look at our gallery of highlights from every commencement, or peruse each ceremony, gathered below.

Hinds County

Callaway

Callaway High School held graduation at the Mississippi Coliseum in Jackson on May 27.

Forest Hill High School

Forest Hill High School held graduation at the Mississippi Coliseum in Jackson on May 27.

Jim Hill High School

Jim HIll High School held graduation at the Mississippi Coliseum in Jackson on May 26.

Lanier High School

Lanier High School held graduation at the Mississippi Coliseum in Jackson on May 27.

Murrah High School

Murrah High School held graduation at the Mississippi Coliseum in Jackson on May 26.

Provine High School

Provine High School held graduation at the Mississippi Coliseum in Jackson on May 26.

Raymond High School

Raymond High School held graduation at the Mississippi Coliseum in Jackson on May 19.

Terry High School

Terry High School held graduation at the Mississippi Coliseum in Jackson on May 19.

Madison County

Canton High School

Canton High School held graduation on its campus in Canton on May 23.

Germantown High School

Germantown High School held graduation at the Mississippi Coliseum in Jackson on May 16.

Madison Central High School

Madison Central High School held graduation at the Mississippi Coliseum in Jackson on May 16.

Ridgeland High School

Ridgeland High School held graduation at the Mississippi Coliseum in Jackson on May 16.

Velma Jackson High School

Velma Jackson High School held graduation on its campus in Camden on May 15.

Rankin County

Brandon High School

Brandon High School held graduation at the Mississippi Coliseum in Jackson on May 11.

Florence High School

Florence High School held graduation at the Mississippi Coliseum in Jackson on May 8.

Northwest Rankin High School

Northwest Rankin High School held graduation at the Mississippi Coliseum in Jackson on May 12.

Pelahatchie High School

Pelahatchie High School held graduation at the Clyde Muse Center in Pearl on May 15.

Pisgah High School

Pisgah High School held graduation at the Clyde Muse Center in Pearl on May 12.

Puckett High School

Puckett High School held graduation at the Clyde Muse Center in Pearl on May 11.

Richland High School

Richland High School held graduation at the Clyde Muse Center in Pearl on May 18.

Private Schools

Central Hinds Academy

Central Hinds Academy held graduation at Cain-Cochran Hall in Raymond on May 4.

Hartfield Academy

Hartfield Academy held graduation at Pinelake Church Reservoir Campus in Brandon on May 8.

Hillcrest Christian School

Hillcrest Christian School held graduation on its campus in Jackson on May 8.

Jackson Academy

Jackson Academy held graduation on its campus in Jackson on May 14.

Jackson Prep

Jackson Prep held graduation at First Baptist Jackson in Jackson on May 19.

Madison-Ridgeland Academy

Madison-Ridgeland Academy held graduation at Broadmoor Baptist Church in Madison on May 15.

St. Andrew’s Episcopal School

St. Andrew’s Episcopal School held graduation on its campus in Ridgeland on May 22.

Saint Joseph Catholic School

Saint Joseph Catholic School held graduation at Thalia Mara Hall in Jackson on May 20.

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Mississippi

Where is Lipscomb? Mississippi State baseball’s opponent in Starkville Regional

Published

1 day ago

May 29, 2026

Press Room

Where is Lipscomb? Mississippi State baseball’s opponent in Starkville Regional

Mississippi State baseball is facing Lipscomb in the first game of the Starkville Regional in the NCAA Tournament on May 29 (1 p.m., ESPN+).

The Bulldogs (40-17) are the host and No. 14 national seed, and Lipscomb (29-24) is the No. 4 seed in the regional. It is the fourth time they’ve played each other this season, with MSU sweeping a March series at Dudy Noble Field.

Here is what to know about Lipscomb University.

Where is Lipscomb University?

Lipscomb is a private Christian school in Nashville, Tennessee. It is about a four-and-a-half-hour drive from Starkville.

Lipscomb University mascot

Lipscomb’s mascot is the Bisons.

What conference is Lipscomb in?

Lipscomb is in the Atlantic Sun Conference.

Lipscomb University enrollment

According to US News, Lipscomb has an undergraduate enrollment of 3,006 students and a 68% acceptance rate.

Lipscomb baseball coach

Jeff Forehand is Lipscomb’s baseball coach. He’s in his 20th season and has led Lipscomb to all four of its NCAA Tournament appearances in program history.