Mahadev Maitri Foundation
US Initiatives

MERIDIAN PUBLIC SCHOOLS

Mississippi · Public School District
11
Schools
4,614
Students
$13,011
Per-Pupil Spend
-9% nat'l
100.0%
Free Lunch Rate
+48pp vs nat'l
77.0%
Graduation Rate
-9.5pp vs nat'l
District Overview

MERIDIAN PUBLIC SCHOOLS is a public school district in Mississippi serving 4,614 students across 11 schools. It includes 6 elementary, 2 middle, 2 high schools. Its graduation rate of 77.0% is below the national average of 86.5%. Per-pupil spending of $13,011 is near the national average for a US public school district. 100% of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, reflecting significant economic need in the community. Opportunity scores across its schools are limited, with a district median of 39/100.

⇄ Compare with another district
All Schools (11)
Middle Schools2 schools
SchoolGradesStudents
MAGNOLIA MIDDLE SCHOOL06–08428
NORTHWEST JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL06–08566
High Schools2 schools
SchoolGradesStudents
MERIDIAN HIGH SCHOOL09–121,301
ROSS COLLINS VOC CENTER09–120
Other School1 school
SchoolGradesStudents
MARION PARK COMPLEXKG–120
District Finances
Per-Pupil Expenditure$13,011Near national avg
National avg $14,347
Revenue Sources
39%
35%
State
38.9%
Local (property tax)
34.9%
Federal
26.2%

Funding is shared between state (39%) and local sources (35%), with notable federal support (26%).

Source: NCES F-33 School District Finance Survey. District-level data.
District Snapshot
11
Schools
4,614
Students
100%
Free Lunch
$13K
Per-Pupil
Graduation Rate77.0%
Opportunity Score39/100
StateMississippi →
School Rankings
Strengths & Considerations
Below-average graduation rate
At 77.0%, graduation is 9.5 points below the national average of 86.5%.
High economic need in community
100% of students qualify for free or reduced lunch — above the national rate of 52.2% — reflecting broader economic challenges.
Heavy reliance on federal aid
26% of revenue comes from federal sources. High federal reliance typically signals a limited local tax base or high concentration of low-income families.
Location
Frequently Asked Questions
How many schools are in MERIDIAN PUBLIC SCHOOLS?
MERIDIAN PUBLIC SCHOOLS has 11 public schools, serving a total of 4,614 students.
What is the graduation rate for MERIDIAN PUBLIC SCHOOLS?
The graduation rate is 77.0%, which is below the national average of 86.5%.
How much does MERIDIAN PUBLIC SCHOOLS spend per student?
MERIDIAN PUBLIC SCHOOLS spends $13,011 per pupil — 9% below the national average of $14,347.
What percentage of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch in MERIDIAN PUBLIC SCHOOLS?
100% of students in MERIDIAN PUBLIC SCHOOLS qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, compared to the national rate of 52.2%.
Are there charter schools in MERIDIAN PUBLIC SCHOOLS?
No, MERIDIAN PUBLIC SCHOOLS does not currently include any charter schools.
What grade levels does MERIDIAN PUBLIC SCHOOLS serve?
MERIDIAN PUBLIC SCHOOLS serves grades PK through 12, covering elementary, middle, and high school levels.
What is the opportunity score for MERIDIAN PUBLIC SCHOOLS?
The median opportunity score across schools in MERIDIAN PUBLIC SCHOOLS is 39/100. The national median is 50/100. Opportunity scores reflect long-term economic mobility prospects for children who grow up in these communities.
About This Data

All figures on this page come directly from US federal open datasets — NCES Common Core of Data, EDFacts, and the Opportunity Atlas — and we work hard to keep them accurate and up to date. That said, federal data is published on an annual cycle, so some figures may not yet reflect the very latest school-year changes or local updates. We recommend using this page as a helpful starting point and cross-checking with the school or district directly, or visiting the NCES Common Core of Data and ed.gov for the most authoritative figures before making any important decisions.