- Enrollment
- 484
- Students per teacher
- 12.7:1
- Resource Index
- 45/100
High school (grades 9-12) · Meridian, MS
Meridian High School
Federal NCES profile for Meridian High School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 36/100.
2024-25 NCES dataHigh school (grades 9-12)NCES 280291000567
👥 S:T ratio 45
🌟 Gifted program 30
🎓 Counselors 71
📋 Attendance 0
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Meridian High School earns 36/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the Mississippi median. It is also one of the largest schools in Mississippi.
- #1 of 3
- high schools in Meridian · Resource Index
- 36
- Resource Index · Typical
- 13.8:1
- students per teacher
- 100.0%
- free-lunch eligible
Meridian High School has class sizes near the Mississippi median. Computed live against every Mississippi school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Meridian High School ranks #1 of 3 high schools in Meridian, MS.
School address
District: Meridian Public Schools · Mississippi
NCES ID 280291000567 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
+13 students YoY
Meridian High School held near 1,314 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (+13 headcount).
Teacher FTE added 91.4 → 96.0 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Steady CCD campus
+13 students YoY 280291000567 · Meridian, MS High · MID · TRAD
1,253 enr · 13.8:1 · 100.0% lunch · RII 36
Nearest enrollment peer: Northwest Junior High School (484 students)
Meridian High School held near 1,314 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (+13 headcount). Teacher FTE added 91.4 → 96.0 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Mississippi schools → · Find another →
Meridian High School in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- This school
Meridian High School
1,253 students
- Northwest Juni 484
Northwest Junior High School
484 students
- Magnolia Middl 440
Magnolia Middle School
440 students
- T J Harris El 434
T J Harris Elementary
434 students
- West Hills Ele 423
West Hills Elementary School
423 students
- Poplar Springs 405
Poplar Springs Elementary School
405 students
What this shows Meridian High School reports 1,253 students on the CCD universe file.
How Meridian High School compares
Meridian High School held steady on CCD headcount: ratios and free-lunch share vs Mississippi and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Mississippi | Mississippi avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 13.8:1 | ▲ 4% | 13.3:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 100.0% | ▲ 24% | 80.5% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 1,253 | top 4% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
13.8:1
Leaner classes than 59% of US schools, a middle-of-the-pack class size.
1,253
Bigger than 94% of US schools by enrollment, a large campus nationally.
Equity indicators methodology
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
13.8:1
students per teacher
- 4% above state mean
Top 61% in Mississippi - lower ratio than 39% of state schools
Close to the 15:1 benchmark most often cited for individualized attention.
Engagement
57.6%
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
$14,308
per pupil, district-wide
- above Mississippi avg of $13,683
Somewhat below the U.S. average per-pupil spend; funding constraints may affect programs, facilities, and staffing.
Support staff
Counselors8.5 FTE
Per 147 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
155
in-school suspensions + 245 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 12.4 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 31.9 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection. Includes 39 expulsions.
Student demographics
African American 92.3%
Hispanic or Latino 4.5%
White 2.1%
Two or More 0.6%
Asian 0.3%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.2%
Largest group: African American at 92.3% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 14.6/100
Simpson diversity index - at 14.6, Meridian High School is less mixed than the Mississippi school average of 41.1.
Programs
AP courses offered 3
District finance for Meridian Public Schools reports $14,308 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Meridian High School Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Northwest Junior High School | Smaller | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Magnolia Middle School | Smaller | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| T J Harris Elementary | Smaller | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| West Hills Elementary School | Smaller | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Poplar Springs Elementary School | Smaller | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Meridian High School's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 440
- Students per teacher
- 12.9:1
- Resource Index
- 49/100
- 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 high schools in Meridian
2 comparable high schools (grades 9-12) serving the same city.
Nationwide high schools with similar size or staffing
Out-of-state peers matched by enrollment and by student-teacher ratio, not the same-city or same-district lists above.
Similar enrollment (~1,253 students)
Frequently asked questions about Meridian High School
How many students attend Meridian High School?
Meridian High School has 1,253 students enrolled. It is a high school in Meridian, MS. CCD year-over-year: 1,301 (2022-23) → 1,314 (2023-24), nearly flat (+13).
What is the student-teacher ratio at Meridian High School?
The student-teacher ratio at Meridian High School is 13.8:1, which is 4% higher than the Mississippi average of 13.3:1 and 12% lower than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Meridian High School?
100.0% of students at Meridian High School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Mississippi average of 80.5%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Meridian High School?
The largest demographic group at Meridian High School is African American at 92.3% of enrollment, in Meridian, MS.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Meridian High School?
Meridian High School has a Resource Investment Index of 36/100 (typical reported resources relative to schools nationally) based on 4 factors: student-teacher ratio, gifted-program reporting, counselor availability, chronic absenteeism. Not a test-score or academic measure (national median ~41/100, see methodology).
How does Meridian High School rank among high schools in Meridian?
By Resource Investment Index, Meridian High School ranks #1 of 3 high 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 high schools in Meridian on the city page.
What other schools are in Meridian Public Schools?
Besides Meridian High School, Meridian Public Schools also operates Northwest Junior High School (484 students), Magnolia Middle School (440 students), and T J Harris Elementary (434 students). See the Meridian Public Schools district page for the complete list.