Enrollment
440
Mississippi · 2024-25 NCES data
Middle school (grades 6-8) · Meridian, MS
Magnolia Middle School
Federal NCES profile for Magnolia Middle School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 49/100.
2024-25 NCES dataMiddle school (grades 6-8)NCES 280291000564
👥 S:T ratio 48
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 56
📋 Attendance 22
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Magnolia Middle School earns 49/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the Mississippi median. It is also less racially and ethnically mixed than most Mississippi schools.
- #3 of 17
- public schools in Meridian · Resource Index
- 49
- Resource Index · Higher
- 12.9:1
- students per teacher
- 100.0%
- free-lunch eligible
Magnolia Middle School has class sizes near the Mississippi median. Computed live against every Mississippi school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Magnolia Middle School ranks #3 of 17 public schools in Meridian, MS.
School address
District: Meridian Public Schools · Mississippi
NCES ID 280291000564 Verify on NCES CCD record →
Teachers (FTE)
34.0
Federal CCD staff survey
Students per teacher
12.9:1
vs 13.3:1 Mississippi avg
-3% vs state
Free-lunch eligible
100.0%
vs 80.5% Mississippi avg
+24% vs state
Student-teacher ratio in context
How Magnolia Middle School compares with Mississippi and U.S. medians
What stands out at Magnolia Middle School
Magnolia Middle School is a high-poverty, mid-sized middle school in Meridian, Mississippi, enrolling 440 students.
At 12.9:1, its student-teacher ratio sits close to the Mississippi median, within a few percentage points of the 13.3:1 state norm, neither notably crowded nor notably small.
Its free-meal eligibility rate of 100.0% lands close to the Mississippi typical range, neither a high- nor low-need campus by this measure.
With 440 students, its enrollment sits close to the Mississippi median campus size.
Its Resource Investment Index lands in the upper third of 877 scored Mississippi schools.
Against 266 statewide peers matched on enrollment and economic need, it ranks in the upper tier at #54.
Its student body is predominantly African American (92% of enrollment), among the less diverse in the state (diversity index 16/100).
Counselor coverage is strong, about 220 students per counselor, inside the American School Counselor Association's recommended 250:1.
Chronic absenteeism is elevated: 31.1% of students missed 10% or more of school days (2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection).
Its district draws 26.2% of revenue from federal sources, an above-typical federal share that tends to track a higher-need student population.
Discipline events run high: 157 in- and out-of-school suspensions were reported for 440 students in the 2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection.
The federal civil-rights collection also records 1 expulsion at this campus for 2021-22.
Among Meridian's middle schools, it stands alongside Northwest Junior High School (484 students): Magnolia Middle School is smaller than that campus by headcount and runs heavier classes (12.9:1 vs 12.7:1).
Meridian Public Schools also operates Meridian High School (1,253 students) and Northwest Junior High School (484 students) alongside Magnolia Middle School.
Sourced from NCES CCD, CRDC, and F-33 (federal records, not a quality verdict). How we source and compute this.
Source: National Center for Education Statistics Common Core of Data + CRDC + F-33 · 2024-25
How Magnolia Middle School compares
Magnolia Middle School on the metrics families compare, against Mississippi and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Mississippi | Mississippi avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 12.9:1 | ▼ 3% | 13.3:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 100.0% | ▲ 24% | 80.5% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 440 | top 45% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
12.9:1
Leaner classes than 68% of US schools, among the more generously staffed nationally.
440
Bigger than 53% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators (what these measure)
Economic need
100.0%
free-lunch eligible
- 24% above the Mississippi average of 80.5%
Above the 40% Title I schoolwide threshold; federal funds support the whole school, not individual students.
Staffing depth
12.9:1
students per teacher
- 3% below state mean
Top 44% in Mississippi - lower ratio than 56% of state schools
Well under the widely cited 15:1 individualized-attention benchmark, among the leaner class loads nationally.
Engagement
31.1%
chronically absent (missed 10%+ of school days)
At or above 20%, the commonly used threshold for "high" chronic absenteeism, signaling significant barriers to regular attendance.
Funding equity
$12,633
per pupil, district-wide
- above Mississippi avg of $11,990
Well below the U.S. average per-pupil spend, a notably leaner funding position that may affect programs, facilities, and staffing.
Support staff
Counselors2.0 FTE
Per 220 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
79
in-school suspensions + 78 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 18.0 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 35.7 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection. Includes 1 expulsion.
Overview
- Common Core of Data (June 2026): enrollment, staffing, and the student-teacher ratio above.
- Civil Rights Data Collection: discipline counts and program access (AP, gifted, special education).
- F-33 School District Finance Survey: the district-wide per-pupil spending figures below.
Three separate federal collections, each on its own reporting cadence - which is why this school's numbers line up on a consistent basis against every other school and state on this site, rather than mixing figures pulled from different survey years.
Student demographics
African American 91.8%
Hispanic or Latino 3.2%
White 2.7%
Two or More 1.4%
Asian 0.5%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.5%
Largest group: African American at 91.8% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 15.5/100
Simpson diversity index - at 15.5, Magnolia Middle School is less mixed than the Mississippi school average of 41.1.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
Funding & spending
District-wide per-pupil expenditure for Meridian Public Schools, which includes Magnolia Middle School.
$12,633
Per student
+5%
vs Mississippi
Avg $11,990
-24%
vs U.S.
Avg $16,593
Revenue mix
Local 34.9%
State 38.9%
Federal 26.2%
Source: NCES F-33 School District Finance Survey District-level finance · FY 2021-22 Per-pupil expenditure reflects the district-wide average. Individual school budgets are not reported at the federal level.
How Magnolia Middle School Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Meridian High School | Larger | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Northwest Junior High School | Similar size | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| T J Harris Elementary | Similar size | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| West Hills Elementary School | Similar size | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Poplar Springs Elementary School | Similar size | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Magnolia Middle School's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 1,253
- Students per teacher
- 13.8:1
- Resource Index
- 36/100
- Enrollment
- 484
- Students per teacher
- 12.7:1
- Resource Index
- 45/100
- Enrollment
- 434
- Students per teacher
- 12.4:1
- Resource Index
- 50/100
- Enrollment
- 423
- Students per teacher
- 15.7:1
- Resource Index
- 46/100
- Enrollment
- 405
- Students per teacher
- 14.5:1
- Resource Index
- 58/100
Similar middle schools in Meridian
1 comparable middle schools (grades 6-8) serving the same city.
Similar middle schools statewide
Matched by enrollment size and by staffing ratio across all of Mississippi, not just this city - a different peer set than the local comparisons above.
Similar enrollment (~440 students)
Similar student-teacher ratio (~12.9:1)
Next steps
Verify locally before acting on Magnolia Middle School's federal record.
- Compare Magnolia Middle School against another school. Compare schools
- Meridian Public Schools's spending and staffing shape this school. District profile
- Confirm current enrollment and boundaries with the school. Choosing guide
Federal record (CCD 2024-25, CRDC 2021-22) - PlainSchools assigns no subjective rating; the composite quality score is a transparent, reproducible index computed from this cited federal data.
Frequently asked questions about Magnolia Middle School
How many students attend Magnolia Middle School?
Magnolia Middle School has 440 students enrolled. It is a middle school in Meridian, MS.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Magnolia Middle School?
The student-teacher ratio at Magnolia Middle School is 12.9:1, which is 3% lower than the Mississippi average of 13.3:1 and 18% lower than the national average of 15.7:1. Lower ratios generally mean more individual attention per student.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Magnolia Middle School?
100.0% of students at Magnolia Middle School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Mississippi average of 80.5%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Magnolia Middle School?
The largest demographic group at Magnolia Middle School is African American at 91.8% of enrollment, in Meridian, MS.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Magnolia Middle School?
Magnolia Middle School has a Resource Investment Index of 49/100 (higher reported resources relative to schools nationally) based on 4 factors: student-teacher ratio, counselor availability, attendance rates. Not a test-score or academic measure (national median ~41/100, see methodology).
How does Magnolia Middle School rank among public schools in Meridian?
By Resource Investment Index, Magnolia Middle School ranks #3 of 17 public schools in Meridian, MS. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all public schools in Meridian on the city page.
Is Magnolia Middle School a good school?
Magnolia Middle School earns 49/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the Mississippi median. It is also less racially and ethnically mixed than most Mississippi schools. This is a resource snapshot, not an academic rating; see the Resource Investment Index question above for what the number does and doesn't measure.
What other schools are in Meridian Public Schools?
Besides Magnolia Middle School, Meridian Public Schools also operates Meridian High School (1,253 students), Northwest Junior High School (484 students), and T J Harris Elementary (434 students). See the Meridian Public Schools district page for the complete list.
Related tools
Every figure on PlainSchools is rendered directly from the source NCES, CRDC and F-33 federal records, no number is typed in by an editor. Each school's figures reflect its most recent NCES/CRDC submission on file. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of June 2026.