Best Schools in Canton, Mississippi
11 schools · 5 Elementary · 3 Middle · 1 High · 2 Other
Choosing a school in Canton?
Use this page to compare every school in Canton by level, neighborhood, and district — and find the right fit, not just the top of the list.
Shortlist starter
Start with these real page-level signals, then use the full table and map below.
Luther Branson School
Elementary · Madison Co School Dist. Ranked from real test data; use the map and table below to check address fit.
Jimmie M. Goodloe Elementary School
Elementary · Canton Public School Dist. Ranked from real test data; use the map and table below to check address fit.
Huey L. Porter Middle School
Middle · Canton Public School Dist. Ranked from real test data; use the map and table below to check address fit.
The short answer
The top-rated schools in Canton for 2026 are Luther Branson School (9.2/10), Jimmie M. Goodloe Elementary School (8.0/10), and Huey L. Porter Middle School (7.4/10), based on MySchoolScout's analysis of real test data across 11 rated schools. Ratings blend student growth, poverty-adjusted academic achievement, and school environment (plus college readiness for high schools), with equity shown as context, not scored; schools with estimated (proxy) scores are excluded from this ranking.
Schools
11
10 public · 1 private
Avg Score
6.7
out of 10
Median Home
$210,900
home value · ACS
Districts
2
serving the city
Schools
11
10 public · 1 private
Avg Score
6.7
out of 10
Median Home
$210,900
home value · ACS
Districts
2
serving the city
STAAR proficiency rose +16.5 points from 2022 to 2024. That's the biggest jump among Canton schools across the two most recent comparable testing years.
Top-Rated Schools in Canton
Ranked by MySchoolScout composite using only schools with real test data (11 of 11). "Value" = points above what student poverty predicts. Estimated (proxy) scores are excluded.
| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Luther Branson School | 9.2 / 10 |
| 2 | Jimmie M. Goodloe Elementary School | 8.0 / 10 |
| 3 | Huey L. Porter Middle School | 7.4 / 10 |
| 4 | Mc Neal Elementary School | 7.3 / 10 |
| 5 | Canton Academy | 7.3 / 10 |
| 6 | Shirley D. Simmons Middle School | 6.5 / 10 |
| 7 | Canton Public High School | 6.3 / 10 |
| 8 | Canton Public 9th Grade School | 6.1 / 10 |
| 9 | Canton Elementary School | 6.0 / 10 |
| 10 | Nichols Middle School | 4.9 / 10 |
See every school — including those with estimated data — in the full directory below. How we rate schools.
Family Snapshot
At a glance- Avg school rating
- 6.7/10
- Median household income
- $48,288
- Median home value
- $210,900
- Bachelor's degree or higher
- 29%
- Avg commute
- 25 min
- Owner-occupied homes
- 59%
45% of schools rated 7+
Census ACS, ZIPs in this city
Owner-occupied units
Adults 25+
Workers age 16+
Of occupied housing units
How Canton compares
Mississippi rank
#49 of 120
cities by avg. school score
Vs. state average
+0.4
above Mississippi avg (6.3)
Median household income
$48k
92% of Mississippi median
Schools in this city
11
About Schools in Canton, Mississippi
Canton, Mississippi has 10 ranked public schools, with an average score of 6.4 out of 10 — a compact district where the range between top and bottom performers is worth understanding before choosing a neighborhood or enrollment zone.
The strongest options cluster at the elementary level. Luther Branson School leads the city with an 8.3 out of 10, the highest score among all ranked schools in Canton. Canton Public 9th Grade School follows closely at 8.2, making it one of the standout transition-year programs in the district. Together, these two schools anchor the high end of a performance band where 4 of Canton's 10 ranked schools — 40% of the total — score 7 or above.
The middle school tier shows a moderate spread. Nichols Middle School scores 7.2 and Shirley D. Simmons Middle School comes in at 7.0, both sitting above the city average. Canton Elementary School rounds out the top five at 6.8, just above the district-wide mean. The remaining five schools pull the average down, so parents of elementary-age children especially should look at specific attendance zones before assuming a given address maps to the stronger performers.
Practically speaking, Canton is a small-city district where the gap between the top school (8.3) and the city average (6.4) is nearly two full points — meaningful in a 10-point system. Parents who prioritize academic performance should confirm which school serves their address, since proximity to Luther Branson or the 9th Grade School isn't guaranteed by living anywhere in the city. For families with children spanning elementary through middle school, the good news is that both tiers have at least one school scoring 7 or above, giving a plausible path through the district without a significant drop-off in performance between transitions.
Elementary Schools
5 schools| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 143 students · Pre-K–5th | 9.2 |
| 2 | 399 students · Pre-K–5th | 8.0 |
| 3 | 391 students · Pre-K–5th | 7.3 |
| 4 | 387 students · Pre-K–5th | 6.0 |
| 5 | 386 students · Pre-K–5th | 4.9 |
Middle Schools
3 schools| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 376 students · 6th–8th | 7.4 |
| 2 | 139 students · 6th–8th | 6.5 |
| 3 | 388 students · 6th–8th | 4.9 |
High Schools
1 school| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 643 students · 10th–12th | 6.3 |
Other Schools
2 schools| # | School | Rating | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 262 students · 9th–9th | 6.1 | ||
| Private Schools 1 school Private and public school ratings use different data sources and scoring models. Scores are not directly comparable across school types. | ||||
| 1 | Canton Academy
Private
237 students · Pre-K–12th | 7.3 | ||
Schools in Canton
Canton, Mississippi · 11 schools
Community Demographics
Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates across 1 ZIP code
Median Income
$48,288
Median Home Value
$210,900
Median Rent
$879/mo
Population
29,160
College Educated
29%
Homeownership
59%
Avg Commute
25 min
Poverty Rate
22.5%
Community Profile
Canton has a median household income of $48,288. It is an area where 29% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The median home value in the area is $210,900, with a median rent of $879/month. The area has a poverty rate of 22.5%, indicating some economic challenges in the community. The average commute for residents is 25 minutes. Source: U.S. Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates.
Schools by Level
- State
- Mississippi
- Elementary
- 5
- Middle
- 3
- High
- 1
- Other
- 2
Resources
Nearby Cities
Other Major Cities in Mississippi
Top metros statewide by school count.
How we rate schools
A clear 1–10 score built from public data — growth, academics, and learning environment. No hidden criteria, no pay-to-play.
See how we rateFrequently Asked Questions
Common questions about schools in Canton, Mississippi
How many schools are in Canton, Mississippi?
Canton has 11 schools, including 10 public and 1 private schools spanning elementary, middle, and high school levels.
What is the average school rating in Canton, Mississippi?
The average MySchoolScout composite score for schools in Canton is 6.7 out of 10, built from student growth, poverty-adjusted academic achievement, and school environment — plus college readiness for high schools.
What is the top-ranked school in Canton, Mississippi?
The top-ranked school in Canton on MySchoolScout is Luther Branson School with a composite score of 9.2/10.
What is the best elementary school in Canton, Mississippi?
The top-ranked elementary school in Canton on MySchoolScout is Luther Branson School with a composite score of 9.2/10.
What is the best middle school in Canton, Mississippi?
The top-ranked middle school in Canton on MySchoolScout is Huey L. Porter Middle School with a composite score of 7.4/10.
What is the best high school in Canton, Mississippi?
The top-ranked high school in Canton on MySchoolScout is Canton Public High School with a composite score of 6.3/10.
How many school districts serve Canton, Mississippi?
Canton is served by 2 school districts: Canton Public School Dist, Madison Co School Dist.
What is the education level in Canton, Mississippi?
According to Census data, 29% of adults in Canton have earned a bachelor's degree or higher.
What is the median income in Canton, Mississippi?
The median household income in Canton is approximately $48,288 according to Census ACS 2022 estimates.
Are there private schools in Canton, Mississippi?
Yes, Canton has 1 private school alongside 10 public schools. The top-rated private school is Canton Academy with a score of 7.3/10.
What is the student-teacher ratio in Canton, Mississippi?
The average student-teacher ratio across schools in Canton is 13.4:1. This ratio varies by school, so families should check individual school profiles for specific classroom sizes.
How does MySchoolScout rate schools in Canton, Mississippi?
MySchoolScout rates schools using publicly available data from the NCES Common Core of Data and state education departments. Each school receives a 1-10 composite score built from Student Growth, Poverty-Adjusted Academic Achievement, and School Environment — plus College Readiness for high schools. Weights vary by school level, and equity data is shown for context but not scored.
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Data from NCES Common Core of Data, Mississippi Dept. of Education, and U.S. Census ACS for the 2023–24 school year. Rankings computed by MySchoolScout. See all data sources.