DCS schools rank high among Best High Schools

Lewisburg is ranked second in Mississippi, four high schools among the top 10.

Four DeSoto County public high schools are ranked among the top 10 high schools in Mississippi, according to the latest Best U.S. High Schools rankings from U.S. News and World Report.  

The magazine annually ranks high schools across the country “to give an unbiased look at how well schools serve their students and help you make informed decisions about your child’s education.” 

The top-ranked schools have a high rate of students who scored above expectations in math, science and reading state assessments, passed an array of college-level exams, and graduated in four years.

In Mississippi, the Mississippi School for Mathematics and Science is the top ranked school in the state with a score of 98.75 out of 100.  The Columbus school has a 99 percent graduation rate, 100 percent reading proficiency, 59 percent who have taken at least one Advanced Placement Exam and 45 percent that have passed at least one Advanced Placement Exam. 

Ranked second in the state is Lewisburg High School, finishing with a score of 93.25.

Lewisburg had 45 percent of students that had taken at least one Advanced Placement (AP) Exam and 29 percent who had passed at least one AP Exam. Mathematics Proficiency is 89 percent, reading proficiency is 63 percent, science proficiency is 87 percent and Lewisburg has a graduation rate of 94 percent.  

Petal High School is ranked third in the state, followed by Biloxi fourth, and DeSoto Central is the next county school mentioned at number five with a score of 88.35.  

DeSoto Central had 38 percent of students that had taken at least one Advanced Placement (AP) Exam and 21 percent who had passed at least one AP Exam. Mathematics Proficiency is 73 percent, reading proficiency is 65 percent, science proficiency is 71 percent and Lewisburg has a graduation rate of 95 percent.  

Center Hill was the next DeSoto County school in the top 10 at number eight with a score of 86.24.  

Center Hill had 12 percent of students that had taken at least one Advanced Placement (AP) Exam and 10 percent who had passed at least one AP Exam. Mathematics Proficiency is 82 percent, reading proficiency is 68 percent, science proficiency is 81 percent and Lewisburg has a graduation rate of 95 percent.  

Hernando was next at number nine with a score of 84.61. Hernando had 25 percent of students that had taken at least one Advanced Placement (AP) Exam and 14 percent who had passed at least one AP Exam. Mathematics Proficiency is 77 percent, reading proficiency is 66 percent, science proficiency is 84 percent and Hernando has a graduation rate of 94 percent.  

The other DeSoto County schools ranked, in order of ranking, were Olive Branch (20), Southaven (37), Lake Cormorant (67), and Horn Lake (114). 

The complete list of Mississippi schools in the U.S. Best High Schools rankings is found on the U.S. News and World Report website.