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#437 of 863 schools in MS

Shirley D. Simmons Middle School

Middle School · Madison Co School Dist · Canton, MS

A Madison Co School Dist middle school serving grades 6th – 8th.

820 Sulphur Springs Road, Canton, MS 39046

  • Math 50% vs MS 52% (2025)
  • Reading 38% vs MS 42% (2025)
  • 7.7:1 student-teacher ratio

Academics

Full Profile · 3/3 metrics
Student Progress5.6Average40%
Year-over-year improvement in student test scores.
View breakdown
Years of Data16
Annual Change-1.36 pts/yr
Data Period2009–2025
TrendDeclining
Academics6.3Average35%
Student proficiency on state tests, adjusted for community poverty levels.
View breakdown
Math Proficiency49.5% (2025 MAAP)
Reading/ELA Proficiency37.8% (2025 MAAP)
Math vs. State Avg-3.6 pts
Reading vs. State Avg-8.7 pts
Overall Proficiency44% (2025 MAAP, Math+ELA)
Expected (poverty-adj.)41% (model expectation from 2025 MAAP)
vs. Expected+2.2 pts
Adjusted Percentile47th
Resources & Environment8.4Excellent25%
Student-teacher ratio, district spending per student, and attendance.
View breakdown
Student-Teacher Ratio7.7:1
District spending per student$12,248
Chronic Absenteeism21.6%

Students at Shirley D. Simmons Middle School score 44% proficient, which is above what's typical for similar communities (expected: 41%).

How we calculate scores →

2025 MAAP proficiency

Most recent published year. School vs. MS average.

Math Proficiency50%(2025 MAAP)
School
State
52%(2025 MAAP)
ELA Proficiency38%(2025 MAAP)
School
State
42%(2025 MAAP)

Trend

↑ Recovering

Proficiency declined earlier in the 17-year record (2009–2025), then recovered 9 points since 2020, reaching 44% in 2025.

Show all 15 years
2009
Math
59%
ELA
50%
2010
Math
61%
ELA
53%
2011
Math
64%
ELA
68%
2012
Math
62%
ELA
66%
2013
Math
61%
ELA
63%
2014
Math
24%
ELA
39%
2015
Math
37%
ELA
37%
2016
Math
42%
ELA
27%
2017
Math
57%
ELA
37%
2018
Math
52%
ELA
47%
2019
Math
52%
ELA
47%
2020*
Math
32%
ELA
37%
2021*
Math
32%
ELA
37%
2022
Math
42%
ELA
37%
2025
Math
50%
ELA
38%

Multi-year averages used by the rating model: math 49% (multi-year average, 2009-2025) · reading/ELA 45% (multi-year average, 2009-2025)

* COVID-affected year — test participation was uneven nationwide. This data is weighted at 50% in the Growth score calculation.

Based on 35 test records from MS state assessments and EdFacts (NCES).

Equity & diversity

Shown separately, not included in the overall score

Free/reduced lunch

96.4%

Students qualifying for federal meal assistance

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 rate

The neighborhood

Where Shirley D. Simmons Middle School sits, and what the surrounding area looks like.

Nearby same-level schools are colored by their score. Pins are locations, not attendance boundaries.

Getting around & local context

  • Walk 4Car-Dependent
  • Bike 26Somewhat Bikeable
  • County Safety: Low172/100K

Powered byWalk Score

FBI Uniform Crime Reporting · 2024 · county context, not school-level safety or attendance eligibility. Source details

Source period: 2024. A newer release may be available.

Area profileU.S. Census ACS 5-year estimates (ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates)

Median income

$48,288

Median home value

$210,900

Median rent

$879/mo

College educated

28.9%

Homeownership

58.6%

Poverty rate

22.5%

ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates for the ZCTA associated with school ZIP 39046; this is area context, not an attendance boundary.

Programs & students

Programs & Offerings

Gifted & Talented ProgramAvailable
This school offers a gifted and talented program for qualifying students.·CRDC via Urban Institute · SY 2021–22

Compare nearby

Nearby same-level schools

3 in MADISON CO SCHOOL DIST

SchoolScoreGradesDistanceEnrollmentCompare
Germantown Middle SchoolEnrollment path unverified7.66–8Not available1,033Compare →
Madison Middle SchoolEnrollment path unverified8.66–8Not available1,146Compare →
Old Town MiddleEnrollment path unverified4.66–8Not available686Compare →

Distance is proximity only; it is not attendance eligibility.

Enrollment path unverified: Potential public school; its attendance or application path has not been classified.

Madison Co School Dist

Schools in district
23
Rank in district
#13 of 21
District spending per student
$12,248NCES F-33 · FY 2023 · This annual source is three years behind the current year.
District child poverty rate
9.6%Census SAIPE · 2024

Shirley D. Simmons Middle School is listed in MADISON CO SCHOOL DIST; a district label does not verify attendance for an address.

About Shirley D. Simmons Middle School

Shirley D. Simmons Middle School is a public middle school in Canton, MS, part of Madison Co School Dist, serving approximately 139 students in grades 6th-8th with a 7.7:1 student-teacher ratio. It holds a MySchoolScout rating of 6.5 out of 10 and ranks #437 of 863 schools in MS.

State assessment records show 49% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 45% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).

Frequently asked questions

Common questions about Shirley D. Simmons Middle School

What grades does Shirley D. Simmons Middle School serve?

Shirley D. Simmons Middle School serves students in grades 6th through 8th.

How many students attend Shirley D. Simmons Middle School?

Shirley D. Simmons Middle School has an enrollment of approximately 139 students.

What is the student-teacher ratio at Shirley D. Simmons Middle School?

The student-teacher ratio at Shirley D. Simmons Middle School is 7.7:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.

How does Shirley D. Simmons Middle School rank in MS?

Shirley D. Simmons Middle School ranks #437 of 863 schools in MS.

What is Shirley D. Simmons Middle School's MySchoolScout rating?

Shirley D. Simmons Middle School has a current MySchoolScout rating of 6.5 out of 10. This score combines the level-appropriate components shown in the rating breakdown; equity data is shown separately for context.

What are the test scores at Shirley D. Simmons Middle School?

Based on loaded state assessment records, Shirley D. Simmons Middle School has 49% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 45% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).

Is Shirley D. Simmons Middle School a charter school?

No, Shirley D. Simmons Middle School is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.

Is Shirley D. Simmons Middle School a Title I school?

No, Shirley D. Simmons Middle School is not currently a Title I school.

What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Shirley D. Simmons Middle School?

96.4% of students at Shirley D. Simmons Middle School qualify for free or reduced-price lunch. This is a commonly used indicator of economic need and provides important context when interpreting test scores.

School factsNCES Common Core of Data (CCD) (SY 2023–24)

Grades
6th – 8th
Enrollment
139
Student-Teacher Ratio
7.7:1
Teachers (FTE)
18
Type
regular
Setting
Distant Rural
County
Madison County
Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
21.6%
Area population (ZIP 39046)
29,160
Area average commute
25.2 min
Area median age
37.2
About this school's data

Every number on this page comes from a published source with a stated period. Where a source is partial, aging, or describes a surrounding area rather than the school, that limitation is named below.

School directory (enrollment, grades, staff, contact)
NCES Common Core of Data (CCD) · SY 2023–24 · Medium confidence
  • Source period: SY 2023–24. A newer release may be available.
MySchoolScout rating and rank
MySchoolScout ranking model · Low confidence
  • Vintage not available. Do not use this measure alone.
  • Derived as a weighted blend of the component scores shown in Academics from state assessment, EdFacts growth, and NCES resource records.
Math proficiency
State department of education · 2025 MAAP · Medium confidence
  • Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
  • Source period: 2025 MAAP. A newer release may be available.
  • Derived from source records rather than read directly from one field.
Reading/ELA proficiency
State department of education · 2025 MAAP · Medium confidence
  • Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
  • Source period: 2025 MAAP. A newer release may be available.
  • Derived from source records rather than read directly from one field.
Student progress (growth)
NCES EdFacts · Mixed source periods · Low confidence
  • Vintage not available. Do not use this measure alone.
  • Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
  • Derived as the fitted year-over-year slope of proficiency from multi-year assessment records.
Neighborhood (income, housing, education)
U.S. Census ACS 5-year estimates · ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates · Low confidence
  • Older source: ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates. Use as historical context.
  • Reported for the ZCTA for ZIP 39046; this does not measure the attendance area.
Programs (AP/IB, athletics, gifted)
CRDC via Urban Institute · SY 2021–22 · Medium confidence
  • Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
  • Source period: SY 2021–22. A newer release may be available.

Evidence periods: Rating mixed/unknown input periods; assessments multi-year average, 2009-2025; directory SY 2023–24

About our data · How we calculate scores

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