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Excellent

#8 of 131 private schools in MS

Top 5% of private schools

Discovery Christian School

School

111 WESLEY CIR, Florence, MS 39073

Private Estimated Score

Estimated academic score. This school does not have standardized test data. Based on MS statewide data. Learn more

Enrollment

242

Student-Teacher

6.2:1

Score

8.3

Grades

Pre-K – 12th

Updated 2021-22

How this school compares

Mississippi schools

#3 of 76

About Discovery Christian School

Discovery Christian School serves 242 students from pre-kindergarten through 12th grade in Florence, Mississippi. Despite its name suggesting a private institution, this is actually a regular public school that has earned an impressive 8.5 out of 10 rating from MySchoolScout, ranking 63rd among Mississippi's 131 schools. The school's standout feature is its exceptionally small class sizes, with a student-teacher ratio of just 6.2 to 1 among its 39 full-time equivalent teachers.

This intimate learning environment allows for significant individual attention and personalized instruction across all grade levels, from early childhood through high school. Located on Wesley Circle in Rankin County, Discovery Christian School serves a community where the median household income reaches $70,759, well above many areas in Mississippi. About 21% of local residents hold bachelor's degrees or higher, and the poverty rate sits at a manageable 12.7%.

Median home values in the area average $171,100, reflecting a stable, middle-class neighborhood. The school sits in Florence's large suburban setting, providing students with the benefits of a close-knit educational community while remaining connected to the broader metropolitan area's resources and opportunities.

What Parents Should Know

With a student-teacher ratio of 6.2:1, Discovery Christian School offers a notably low ratio compared to the national average. This typically means smaller class sizes and more opportunities for one-on-one interaction between students and teachers.

As a private school, Discovery Christian School operates independently from the local public school district. Families considering this school should inquire about tuition costs, financial aid availability, and the admissions process. Private schools are not required to follow the same curriculum standards as public schools, which can be either an advantage or a consideration depending on your priorities.

Financial Overview

Source: IRS Form 990 (2023 filing)

Per-Pupil Spending
Total expenses ÷ enrollment
$11,235
Per-Pupil Revenue
Total revenue ÷ enrollment
$12,463
Financial Health
Revenue-to-expense ratio (>1.0 = surplus)
1.11x — Strong
Tuition Dependency
Share of revenue from program services (tuition, fees)
72%
Total Assets
End-of-year total assets from IRS filing
$3.7M

Financial data from IRS Form 990 filings via ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer. Per-pupil figures based on current enrollment of 242 students. Not all private schools file Form 990.

Compare to Public Schools

Beta

How Discovery Christian School compares to 6 public schools serving similar grades in Florence, MS

Student-Teacher Ratio
6.2:1
This School
vs
13:1
Public Avg
Avg School Size
242
This School
vs
578
Public Avg
Avg School Scout Rating
8.3
This School
vs
6.7
Public Avg

Student Demographics

White 87.6% vs 0%
Black 9.5% vs 0%
Hispanic 1.7% vs 0%
Discovery Christian School Florence Public Avg

Nearby Other Schools

School Rating
Discovery Christian School (this school) 8.3
FLORENCE HIGH SCHOOL 4.2
FLORENCE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL 8.0
STEEN'S CREEK ELEMENTARY 6.6
FLORENCE MIDDLE SCHOOL 6.8
MCLAURIN ATTENDANCE CENTER 8.3
MCLAURIN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL 6.5

Demographics sourced from NCES Private School Survey (PSS) and Common Core of Data (CCD). Comparisons are based on enrollment-weighted averages.

Score Breakdown

What This Rating Measures

This rating reflects classroom size, instructional time, student diversity, community resources, and school characteristics. Private schools are ranked against other private schools in MS.

Classroom Attention
? Student-teacher ratio calibrated against other private schools. Lower ratios mean more individual attention. (30% of overall score)
A 9.4 / 10
View breakdown
Student-Teacher Ratio 6.2:1
Instructional Commitment
? Total annual instructional hours based on school day length and days per year. (15% of overall score)
A 8.6 / 10
View breakdown
School Day Length 7.5 hours
Annual Instructional Hours 1,312.5
Diversity & Inclusion
? Racial and ethnic diversity of the student body using Simpson's diversity index. (20% of overall score)
B+ 6.7 / 10
View breakdown
Diversity Index 22%
Community Context

Data Unavailable

School Profile
? Enrollment size and grade span breadth — indicators of program depth and peer community. (15% of overall score)
A- 8.2 / 10
View breakdown
Enrollment 242
View data sources

Score basis: Private school model

Data coverage: 80% of scoring components had data

Components scored: 4 of 5

Ranking pool: Private schools in MS

Test Scores

Test score data not yet available for this school.

Student Demographics NCES PSS (SY 2021-22)

White 87.6%
Black 9.5%
Hispanic 1.7%
Two or More 1.2%

Source: NCES Private School Survey (PSS)

Location

111 WESLEY CIR, Florence, MS 39073

Nearby Alternatives

Families considering Discovery Christian School may also want to explore other schools in the area. MCLAURIN ATTENDANCE CENTER (rated 8.3/10, 5.4 miles away), with a very similar rating. Another option is FLORENCE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL (rated 8.0/10, 0.4 miles away), with a comparable rating. Additionally, PEARL HIGH SCHOOL (rated 7.9/10, 8.0 miles away, in nearby Pearl), with a comparable rating. For more schools in Florence, see our Florence schools guide .

Nearby Schools

20 within 9.1 mi
School Distance Rating
FLORENCE HIGH SCHOOL Florence 0.3 mi 4.2
FLORENCE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL Florence 0.4 mi 8.0
STEEN'S CREEK ELEMENTARY Florence 0.5 mi 6.6
FLORENCE MIDDLE SCHOOL Florence 0.7 mi 6.8
RICHLAND HIGH SCHOOL Richland 4.5 mi 6.2
RICHLAND UPPER ELEMENTARY Richland 4.6 mi 7.3
RICHLAND ELEMENTARY SCHOOL Richland 5.0 mi 7.1
MCLAURIN ATTENDANCE CENTER Florence 5.4 mi 8.3
MCLAURIN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL Florence 5.6 mi 6.5
FAITH ACADEMY Pearl 7.5 mi 5.2
PEARL HIGH SCHOOL Pearl 8.0 mi 7.9
PEARL JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL Pearl 8.5 mi 4.5
PEARL LOWER ELEMENTARY SCHOOL Pearl 8.7 mi 6.7
PEARL UPPER SCHOOL Pearl 8.7 mi 6.6
COLLEGE DRIVE SDA CHRISTIAN SCHOOL Pearl 8.8 mi
FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH OF BYRAM KDGN/DAYCARE Byram 8.1 mi
SHIRLEY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL Jackson 8.7 mi 4.4
NORTHSIDE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL Pearl 9.7 mi 6.6
LBFH CHILDCARE CENTER AND CHRISTIAN ACADEMY Jackson 8.6 mi 6.0
WHITTEN MIDDLE SCHOOL Jackson 9.1 mi 4.5

Neighborhood Census ACS (2019-2023)

Census data for ZIP 39073 (ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates) · Data sources

Median Income

$72,099

Median Home Value

$180,900

Median Rent

$886/mo

Population

21,626

College Educated

20.9%

Homeownership

85.6%

Avg Commute

29.3 min

Poverty Rate

11.6%

Median Age

41.1

Community Profile

The community surrounding Discovery Christian School has a median household income of $72,099. It is a community where 21% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The median home value in the area is $180,900, with a median rent of $886/month. The area has a poverty rate of 11.6%. The average commute for residents is 29 minutes. Source: U.S. Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates.

Similar Schools

Schools in the same state with comparable level, size, and ratings

School Rating
HILLCREST CHRISTIAN SCHOOL Jackson, MS 8.3
ST JOSEPH CATHOLIC SCHOOL Greenville, MS 8.6
CENTRAL HOLMES CHRISTIAN SCHOOL Lexington, MS 7.7
CANTON ACADEMY Canton, MS 7.3
LAUREL CHRISTIAN SCHOOL Laurel, MS 7.3
REGENTS SCHOOL OF OXFORD Oxford, MS 7.2

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about Discovery Christian School

What grades does Discovery Christian School serve?

Discovery Christian School serves students in grades Pre-K through 12th.

How many students attend Discovery Christian School?

Discovery Christian School has an enrollment of approximately 242 students.

What is the student-teacher ratio at Discovery Christian School?

The student-teacher ratio at Discovery Christian School is 6.2:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 11:1 for private schools.

How does Discovery Christian School rank in MS?

Discovery Christian School is ranked #8 out of 131 private schools in MS.

What is Discovery Christian School's MySchoolScout rating?

Discovery Christian School has a composite rating of 8.3 out of 10 on MySchoolScout. This score combines academic performance, student growth, and school environment into a single score. Equity data is shown separately for context.

Is Discovery Christian School a private school?

Yes, Discovery Christian School is a private coeducational school with a Christian, no specific denomination affiliation. Private schools are not required to participate in state standardized testing, so academic performance data may be limited compared to public schools.

Is Discovery Christian School a religious school?

Discovery Christian School has a Christian, no specific denomination religious affiliation.

11 schools nearby View map →

Neighborhood Context

Walk Score
22 Car-Dependent
Bike Score
28 Somewhat Bikeable

Powered by Walk Score

FBI UCR. County-level only.

Quick Facts NCES PSS (SY 2021-22)

Grades
Pre-K – 12th
Enrollment
242
Gender Split
60% M / 40% F
Student-Teacher Ratio
6.2:1
Teachers (FTE)
39
Type
private
Coed Status
coed
Affiliation
Christian, no specific denomination
School Day
7.5 hours
Days Per Year
175 days
Setting
Large Suburb
County
RANKIN
Data Year
2022–2023

How We Rate Schools

Every school receives a composite score from 1 to 10 based on four pillars: Academic Performance (50%), Student Growth (20%), Equity (15%), and Learning Environment (15%). Scores are built from publicly available data including standardized test results, enrollment figures, and school climate indicators.

Read our full methodology

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