How equitable is school funding in Mississippi?

The average funding equity score for Mississippi school districts is 51 out of 100, compared to the national average of 49. This score considers per-pupil spending, need-adjusted spending, funding source diversity, and student-teacher ratios.

What does the equity score measure?

The equity score (0-100) measures four dimensions: per-pupil spending level, need-adjusted spending (rewarding districts that spend more where poverty is higher), funding diversity (less reliance on local property taxes), and resource access (lower student-teacher ratios).

School Funding Equity in Mississippi

Reviewed by PlainSchools Editorial, K12 Schools Editorial Team · June 4, 2026

146 districts ranked by equity score — how equitably is school funding distributed? Equity is computed from NCES F-33 school finance data covering districts in all 50 states. See our methodology.

State Avg Score

National Avg Score

Highly Equitable (70+)

Low Equity (<30)

#	District	Enrollment	$/Pupil	Free Lunch	Local Rev %	Score
1	HOLLANDALE SCHOOL DIST	548	$20,584	100.0%	21.2%	89
2	Leflore Legacy Academy	241	$16,872	100.0%	23.3%	89
3	NORTH BOLIVAR CONS SCHOOL DIST	780	$16,429	100.0%	18.0%	85
4	OKOLONA SEPARATE SCHOOL DIST	511	$14,885	100.0%	22.2%	83
5	HOLMES COUNTY CONSOLIDATED SD	2,544	$16,627	100.0%	16.8%	82
6	LELAND SCHOOL DIST	700	$20,675	100.0%	30.9%	82
7	NEWTON MUNICIPAL SCHOOL DISTRICT	816	$14,721	100.0%	24.9%	81
8	WEST TALLAHATCHIE SCHOOL DISTRICT	513	$19,166	100.0%	31.4%	81
9	JEFFERSON CO SCHOOL DIST	1,063	$17,049	100.0%	20.5%	79
10	QUITMAN CO SCHOOL DIST	852	$16,569	100.0%	24.5%	79
11	MOSS POINT SEPARATE SCHOOL DIST	1,569	$22,811	100.0%	32.7%	78
12	BENTON CO SCHOOL DIST	961	$13,863	100.0%	15.4%	77
13	AMITE COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT	853	$16,047	100.0%	32.1%	77
14	COFFEEVILLE SCHOOL DIST	417	$16,267	100.0%	30.2%	77
15	WEST BOLIVAR CONS SCHOOL DIST	938	$16,435	100.0%	30.4%	75
16	KEMPER CO SCHOOL DIST	884	$19,245	100.0%	47.4%	73
17	SOUTH DELTA SCHOOL DISTRICT	604	$17,672	100.0%	32.4%	73
18	FORREST COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT	2,129	$14,750	81.4%	30.4%	72
19	ATTALA CO SCHOOL DIST	1,004	$16,269	100.0%	39.8%	72
20	COAHOMA COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT	988	$15,635	100.0%	34.0%	72
21	COVINGTON COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT	2,609	$14,013	100.0%	29.7%	71
22	EAST JASPER CONSOLIDATED SCH DIST	755	$16,138	100.0%	42.5%	71
23	WEST POINT CONSOLIDATED SCHOOL DIST	2,609	$13,637	100.0%	25.8%	70
24	JEFFERSON DAVIS CO SCHOOL DIST	1,235	$24,157	100.0%	30.7%	70
25	WINONA-MONTGOMERY CONSOLIDATED	1,144	$14,074	100.0%	20.5%	70
26	PERRY CO SCHOOL DIST	933	$15,012	79.3%	30.8%	70
27	CHOCTAW CO SCHOOL DIST	1,230	$19,384	58.0%	48.3%	69
28	PASCAGOULA-GAUTIER SCHOOL DISTRICT	6,565	$16,455	100.0%	47.1%	68
29	WAYNE CO SCHOOL DIST	2,900	$13,647	100.0%	24.8%	68
30	PHILADELPHIA PUBLIC SCHOOL DIST	829	$13,944	100.0%	31.9%	68
31	MS SCHOOL FOR MATH AND SCIENCE	231	$21,909	27.7%	—	67
32	KOSCIUSKO SCHOOL DISTRICT	2,123	$13,225	77.5%	22.5%	66
33	CLARKSDALE MUNICIPAL SCHOOL DIST	2,118	$15,163	100.0%	17.8%	66
34	COLUMBIA SCHOOL DISTRICT	1,646	$15,503	100.0%	30.3%	66
35	CALHOUN CO SCHOOL DIST	2,080	$12,001	76.6%	20.8%	65
36	BAY ST LOUIS WAVELAND SCHOOL DIST	1,672	$15,544	100.0%	38.7%	65
37	TUNICA COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT	1,671	$15,968	100.0%	47.7%	65
38	ABERDEEN SCHOOL DIST	998	$14,663	100.0%	36.4%	65
39	EAST TALLAHATCHIE CONSOL SCH DIST	853	$14,281	100.0%	22.4%	65
40	MARION CO SCHOOL DIST	1,904	$12,652	100.0%	21.7%	64
41	GREENWOOD-LEFLORE CONS SCH DISTRICT	4,030	$13,220	100.0%	25.0%	63
42	HATTIESBURG PUBLIC SCHOOL DIST	3,667	$16,078	100.0%	42.2%	63
43	SUNFLOWER CTY CONS SCHOOL DISTRICT	2,929	$14,264	100.0%	30.2%	63
44	YAZOO CO SCHOOL DIST	1,320	$15,167	100.0%	39.5%	63
45	UNION PUBLIC SCHOOL DIST	927	$11,988	60.5%	15.4%	62
46	CARROLL COUNTY SCHOOL DIST	805	$13,179	100.0%	28.4%	62
47	SOUTH TIPPAH SCHOOL DIST	2,485	$11,777	73.1%	19.2%	61
48	VICKSBURG WARREN SCHOOL DIST	6,862	$15,722	100.0%	41.0%	60
49	BILOXI PUBLIC SCHOOL DIST	5,812	$15,502	71.0%	37.7%	60
50	MCCOMB SCHOOL DISTRICT	2,140	$13,705	100.0%	29.3%	60
51	PRENTISS CO SCHOOL DIST	2,278	$11,151	75.0%	17.4%	59
52	JACKSON PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT	18,710	$14,275	100.0%	35.7%	58
53	NATCHEZ-ADAMS SCHOOL DISTRICT	2,842	$21,281	100.0%	35.3%	58
54	WESTERN LINE SCHOOL DISTRICT	1,632	$14,537	100.0%	40.9%	58
55	WALTHALL CO SCHOOL DIST	1,684	$11,911	100.0%	27.8%	56
56	FRANKLIN CO SCHOOL DIST	1,211	$12,829	80.4%	24.7%	56
57	HOLLY SPRINGS SCHOOL DIST	1,025	$14,917	100.0%	32.6%	56
58	GREENVILLE PUBLIC SCHOOLS	3,542	$12,081	100.0%	23.8%	53
59	PICAYUNE SCHOOL DISTRICT	3,431	$12,313	100.0%	27.2%	53
60	COLUMBUS MUNICIPAL SCHOOL DIST	3,090	$13,197	100.0%	33.6%	53
61	WILKINSON CO SCHOOL DIST	891	$13,202	100.0%	25.2%	53
62	TISHOMINGO CO SP MUN SCH DIST	2,897	$11,974	63.4%	25.8%	52
63	PONTOTOC CITY SCHOOLS	2,302	$11,106	70.0%	19.6%	52
64	LOUISVILLE MUNICIPAL SCHOOL DIST	2,523	$11,974	100.0%	29.3%	51
65	LONG BEACH SCHOOL DIST	2,929	$13,833	55.1%	25.2%	50
66	NETTLETON SCHOOL DIST	1,112	$10,343	80.6%	19.6%	50
67	MIDTOWN PUBLIC CHARTER SCHOOL	284	$11,665	100.0%	34.1%	50
68	ITAWAMBA COUNTY SCHOOL DIST	3,375	$10,667	67.1%	21.1%	49
69	LEAKE CO SCHOOL DIST	2,532	$11,255	100.0%	18.9%	49
70	CHICKASAW CO SCHOOL DIST	2,214	$10,492	76.9%	18.9%	49
71	LAWRENCE CO SCHOOL DIST	1,696	$12,195	80.7%	33.4%	49
72	HUMPHREYS CO SCHOOL DIST	1,207	$12,861	100.0%	23.7%	49
73	CLAIBORNE CO SCHOOL DIST	1,188	$13,015	100.0%	33.0%	49
74	TUPELO PUBLIC SCHOOL DIST	7,132	$13,039	66.7%	42.5%	48
75	SIMPSON CO SCHOOL DIST	3,008	$12,321	84.8%	27.8%	48
76	NOXUBEE COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT	1,397	$12,708	100.0%	24.6%	48
77	RICHTON SCHOOL DIST	597	$12,830	64.8%	18.9%	48
78	HINDS CO SCHOOL DIST	4,968	$13,430	82.7%	44.0%	47
79	NESHOBA COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT	3,038	$12,204	66.9%	15.9%	47
80	NEWTON COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT	1,688	$12,169	52.5%	23.6%	47
81	SOUTH PANOLA SCHOOL DISTRICT	4,313	$11,628	78.0%	26.4%	45
82	CLEVELAND SCHOOL DIST	2,818	$12,507	100.0%	37.4%	45
83	BALDWYN SCHOOL DISTRICT	756	$13,584	65.8%	38.7%	45
84	STARKVILLE- OKTIBBEHA CONS DIST	4,894	$13,772	69.3%	43.0%	44
85	MERIDIAN PUBLIC SCHOOLS	4,614	$13,011	100.0%	34.9%	44
86	NORTH PIKE SCHOOL DIST	2,245	$11,527	100.0%	19.8%	44
87	PASS CHRISTIAN PUBLIC SCHOOL DIST	1,944	$13,701	60.8%	46.0%	44
88	GREENE COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT	1,640	$12,352	76.8%	29.7%	44
89	WEST JASPER CONSOLIDATED SCHOOLS	1,411	$12,365	87.4%	32.3%	44
90	Ambition Preparatory Charter School	395	$13,508	100.0%	31.5%	44
91	SCOTT CO SCHOOL DIST	3,989	$10,617	100.0%	15.2%	43
92	NORTH TIPPAH SCHOOL DIST	1,286	$10,111	74.1%	22.5%	43
93	NORTH PANOLA SCHOOL DISTRICT	1,219	$12,056	100.0%	28.9%	43
94	REIMAGINE PREP	514	$11,935	100.0%	26.2%	43
95	CLARKSDALE COLLEGIATE DISTRICT	511	$11,296	100.0%	8.2%	43
96	MARSHALL CO SCHOOL DIST	2,777	$10,889	100.0%	30.0%	42
97	JOEL E SMILOW COLLEGIATE	569	$12,282	100.0%	28.7%	42
98	LEE COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT	6,303	$11,309	71.4%	32.7%	41
99	GULFPORT SCHOOL DIST	6,113	$12,643	94.7%	36.9%	41
100	YAZOO CITY MUNICIPAL SCHOOL DIST	2,029	$11,057	100.0%	12.7%	41
101	SOUTH PIKE SCHOOL DIST	1,557	$11,744	100.0%	27.3%	41
102	GRENADA SCHOOL DIST	3,864	$11,296	74.0%	21.8%	40
103	BROOKHAVEN SCHOOL DIST	2,586	$12,900	77.6%	36.2%	40
104	QUITMAN SCHOOL DIST	1,593	$12,570	99.9%	39.0%	40
105	ALCORN SCHOOL DIST	3,188	$10,882	64.0%	26.6%	39
106	COPIAH CO SCHOOL DIST	2,205	$10,433	100.0%	20.3%	39
107	WEBSTER CO SCHOOL DIST	1,739	$10,928	55.1%	22.1%	39
108	HANCOCK CO SCHOOL DIST	4,060	$12,618	63.3%	36.4%	38
109	LINCOLN COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT	2,795	$11,056	57.4%	24.0%	38
110	TATE CO SCHOOL DIST	2,014	$10,870	76.6%	22.9%	38
111	WATER VALLEY SCHOOL DISTRICT	1,041	$10,648	72.7%	22.7%	38
112	LAUREL SCHOOL DISTRICT	2,712	$13,386	100.0%	48.2%	37
113	HAZLEHURST CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT	1,368	$12,975	100.0%	33.9%	37
114	OXFORD SCHOOL DISTRICT	4,766	$15,288	44.1%	53.6%	36
115	SENATOBIA MUNICIPAL SCHOOL DIST	1,666	$11,659	66.2%	30.7%	36
116	ENTERPRISE SCHOOL DIST	955	$10,990	58.0%	35.6%	36
117	LAUDERDALE CO SCHOOL DIST	5,910	$11,502	49.6%	30.1%	35
118	PONTOTOC CO SCHOOL DIST	3,466	$10,260	64.6%	19.6%	35
119	MONROE CO SCHOOL DIST	2,119	$10,157	51.9%	26.3%	35
120	POPLARVILLE SEPARATE SCHOOL DIST	1,909	$11,767	63.4%	28.9%	35
121	AMORY SCHOOL DIST	1,518	$11,111	60.7%	24.3%	34
122	MADISON CO SCHOOL DIST	13,162	$11,926	48.5%	48.5%	33
123	LOWNDES CO SCHOOL DIST	5,261	$11,562	66.1%	44.4%	33
124	STONE CO SCHOOL DIST	2,518	$10,878	65.0%	23.8%	33
125	JOEL E. SMILLOW PREP	577	$11,260	100.0%	30.7%	33
126	RANKIN CO SCHOOL DIST	18,720	$12,330	47.9%	42.5%	32
127	CANTON PUBLIC SCHOOL DIST	3,166	$12,169	100.0%	38.0%	31
128	NEW ALBANY PUBLIC SCHOOLS	2,114	$11,798	63.2%	30.7%	31
129	LAMAR COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT	10,276	$10,656	56.2%	33.5%	30
130	GEORGE CO SCHOOL DIST	4,165	$10,283	66.9%	22.4%	29
131	SMITH CO SCHOOL DIST	2,443	$10,414	73.0%	26.7%	29
132	FORREST COUNTY AG HIGH SCHOOL	611	$12,198	67.1%	31.9%	29
133	JONES CO SCHOOL DIST	8,524	$9,887	70.1%	28.7%	28
134	UNION CO SCHOOL DIST	2,980	$10,084	54.4%	24.3%	28
135	FOREST MUNICIPAL SCHOOL DIST	1,645	$10,759	100.0%	31.1%	27
136	LAFAYETTE CO SCHOOL DIST	2,872	$11,121	47.8%	38.0%	26
137	HARRISON CO SCHOOL DIST	14,355	$11,892	72.7%	36.5%	25
138	PETAL SCHOOL DIST	4,392	$10,400	59.0%	30.0%	25
139	PEARL RIVER CO SCHOOL DIST	3,284	$10,561	59.9%	26.2%	23
140	PEARL PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT	4,216	$10,701	69.7%	34.5%	22
141	CORINTH SCHOOL DIST	2,490	$9,684	60.4%	25.6%	19
142	BOONEVILLE SCHOOL DIST	1,321	$10,321	54.1%	29.2%	19
143	JACKSON CO SCHOOL DIST	8,906	$11,261	54.8%	37.9%	17
144	OCEAN SPRINGS SCHOOL DIST	5,861	$10,132	41.5%	34.0%	15
145	CLINTON PUBLIC SCHOOL DIST	5,211	$10,858	47.8%	35.2%	12
146	DESOTO CO SCHOOL DIST	35,003	$9,536	51.4%	33.8%	11

How the Equity Score Works

The equity score (0-100) evaluates four dimensions of school funding fairness:

Per-Pupil Spending (0-25)

Higher spending relative to peers

Need-Adjusted Spending (0-25)

Spending weighted by poverty level — rewards districts that spend more where need is greatest

Funding Diversity (0-25)

Less reliance on local property taxes, more state/federal support

Resource Access (0-25)

Lower student-teacher ratios = more individualized attention

National Equity Rankings → ← Back to Mississippi

Read our methodology — how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.