Jackson Co School Dist, MS

Original Research by School Decision on Jackson Co School Dist

Jackson County School District sits along the Mississippi Gulf Coast and organizes itself around three distinct communities, each with its own set of elementary, middle, and high schools. The East Central, St. Martin, and Vancleave attendance zones give families a through-line from prekindergarten all the way to graduation within a single feeder pattern, and a countywide vocational center rounds out the options for older students. With roughly a dozen campuses and a large total enrollment, this is one of the bigger districts on the coast, but its three-community structure means most families experience it as a smaller, more localized system tied to their neighborhood.

The district's academic results on the Mississippi Academic Assessment Program paint a generally solid picture. Math proficiency is a real strength in the elementary grades and again in seventh grade, where a clear majority of students reach proficiency. The pattern does dip in sixth grade, where math proficiency falls to a more middling level, and a parent may want to look into that transition year with the school to understand what drives it. English language arts results are more moderate across the board, hovering around the midrange in most grades, with fifth grade standing out as the strongest year. Science is where the district shines brightest. Proficiency in fifth and eighth grade science runs well above what most of the other subjects show, suggesting strong instruction and student engagement in that area.

Demographically, the district is predominantly white, with a smaller Black population, a modest Hispanic and Asian presence, and a meaningful share of students identifying as two or more races. The student body is large enough to offer peer diversity, though the composition tilts toward a single majority group. Several data points that would help round out the picture are missing. Free and reduced-price lunch counts were not available, and the district did not report figures for students with individualized education programs or English learners. Without those, it is hard to characterize the level of economic need or the scope of specialized support services. Civil rights data and course access details were also absent, so we cannot speak to discipline patterns, advanced coursework availability, or staffing ratios from the information provided.

The housing market across the district is moderate by national standards but sits above the Mississippi state benchmark, which is consistent with the Gulf Coast's relatively higher cost of living. Vancleave carries the largest share of the district's housing weight, and home values there are among the highest in the attendance zones, alongside pockets of Ocean Springs and Biloxi that fall within district boundaries. More affordable pockets appear around Moss Point, Gautier, and Lucedale. Rents in the limited areas where rental data was available are manageable relative to income, and the estimated mortgage cost runs higher than rent, a dynamic that shapes whether families buy or lease. Year-over-year home value growth has been slow and steady, with no dramatic swings.

We looked for recent parent-relevant changes in the district, such as rezoning, new programs, or facility investments, and found little that could be confirmed. The district brief returned only basic directory and enrollment information. A parent evaluating Jackson County would be choosing among three well-defined community feeder patterns, each with its own character, tied together by a shared district administration and a shared vocational center. The academic foundation is strongest in the early grades and in science, with room to examine the middle-grade transitions where results ease. Beyond that, the missing economic and special-population data means families will need to go directly to the district or individual schools for a fuller read on support services and equity.

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District Context

Officially reported figures, 2024-25.

Enrollment

8,936

Grades

PK–12

Schools

Student body

Hispanic 3%

Black 11%

White 76%

Asian 3%

Two+ 7%

Am. Indian / AK Native 0%

Hawaiian / Pac. Isl. 0%

Schools in this District

14 schools are officially reported under this district.

EAST CENTRAL MIDDLE SCHOOL

ST MARTIN N ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

VANCLEAVE UPPER ELEMENTARY

EAST CENTRAL LOWER ELEMENTARY

ST. MARTIN MIDDLE SCHOOL

VANCLEAVE LOWER ELEMENTARY

EAST CENTRAL UPPER ELEMENTARY

EAST CENTRAL HIGH SCHOOL

ST MARTIN HIGH SCHOOL

ST MARTIN UPPER ELEMENTARY

ST MARTIN EAST ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

VANCLEAVE MIDDLE SCHOOL

VANCLEAVE HIGH SCHOOL

JACKSON COUNTY VOCATIONAL CENTER

Academic Performance

Percent of students meeting or exceeding state standards, by grade.

Mathematics

6 grades reported

70%

Grade 3

70%

Grade 4

62%

Grade 5

55%

Grade 6

72%

Grade 7

64%

Grade 8

English Language Arts

6 grades reported

61%

Grade 3

64%

Grade 4

66%

Grade 5

53%

Grade 6

55%

Grade 7

58%

Grade 8

Science

2 grades reported

78%

Grade 5

74%

Grade 8

Housing & Real Estate

Data as of April 2026 | District-weighted from constituent ZIP codes

Home Values

Typical home value$244,084

Year-over-year change+2.0%

Range across 7 ZIP codes$186K to $273K

vs. state typical1.26x

vs. national typical0.66x

Home value trend (12 months)

ZIP code home values (7 ZIP codes)

ZIP	City	Value	YoY	Weight
39565	Vancleave	$272K	+2.3%	51.6%
39562	Moss Point	$201K	+1.1%	24.5%
39452	Lucedale	$212K	+2.1%	11.8%
39573	Mc Henry	$228K	+3.1%	6.6%
39564	Ocean Springs	$267K	+1.0%	3.6%
39532	Biloxi	$273K	+2.4%	1.6%
39553	Gautier	$186K	+0.3%	0.3%

Rental Market

Typical monthly rent$1,597/mo

Year-over-year change+2.8%

Range across 3 ZIP codes$1,337 to $1,720/mo

Rent trend (12 months)

ZIP code rents (3 ZIP codes)

ZIP	City	Rent/mo	YoY	Weight
39564	Ocean Springs	$1,720	+3.3%	3.6%
39532	Biloxi	$1,378	+1.8%	1.6%
39553	Gautier	$1,337	—	0.3%

Affordability

Est. monthly mortgage (20% down at 6.48%)$1,232/mo

Home price / national median income2.9x

Annual rent / national median income22.9%

Rent exceeds est. mortgage by$366/mo

Comparison

State typical home value$194,242 (+1.1% YoY)

National typical home value$368,198 (+0.6% YoY)

State ZHVI trend (12 months)

National ZHVI trend (12 months)

Economic Context

30-year fixed mortgage rate6.48%

National unemployment rate4.3%

National median household income$83,730

CPI: Rent of shelter (index)447.05

30-year fixed mortgage rate (12 months)

National unemployment rate (12 months)

National median household income (12 months)

CPI: Rent of shelter (index) (12 months)

Sources: Zillow Home Value Index and Zillow Observed Rent Index (Zillow Group), Realtor.com via Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis (FRED)

Data Currently Unavailable

Civil Rights Data (CRDC)

This profile is derived exclusively from publicly available federal and state datasets. It may not reflect the most current information available. We encourage parents and families to supplement this data with information published directly on the school’s website, which may include more recent figures, additional programs, or updated enrollment data.