The top reported proficiency rate is 53% in Science. The lowest is 40% in English language arts.
Original Research by School Decision on N R Burger Middle School
N R Burger Middle School sits on the south side of Hattiesburg, serving seventh and eighth graders in the Hattiesburg Public School District. It is a two-grade middle school with an enrollment typical for that band in a mid-sized Mississippi city. The student body is predominantly Black, with a smaller Hispanic presence and a handful of students identifying as white, Asian, or multiracial. Every student in the building qualifies for free or reduced-price lunch, which places the school squarely in the category of high-poverty public education. The school is not a charter or magnet; it operates as a traditional public middle school.
On the most recent Mississippi Academic Assessment Program results, the school's math proficiency is the relative bright spot. Both grade levels show roughly half of tested students scoring proficient or above, with seventh grade slightly ahead of eighth. Science proficiency for eighth graders lands in a similar range. English language arts is where the school is weaker. Seventh-grade ELA proficiency sits well below the math marks, and eighth-grade ELA improves but still trails every other subject the school reports. A parent comparing the two subjects would see a school where students are more likely to meet state benchmarks in math and science than in reading and writing. This is a pattern worth asking about directly, since the gap is consistent across both grades.
No multi-year trend data was available, so it is not possible to say from the provided information whether these results represent improvement, decline, or stability. Participation rates for the state assessments were also missing. Data on special education enrollment and English learner counts was not reported, which limits the picture of how the school serves its most specialized populations. Discipline records, course access details, staffing figures, and attendance data were not provided.
The surrounding community shapes what this school is. Hattiesburg is a university town, home to the University of Southern Mississippi and William Carey University, giving it a younger population than many comparable Mississippi cities. Camp Shelby, the largest National Guard training base east of the Mississippi River, sits just south of the city and brings a steady military presence. The city earned its nickname "The Hub City" as a railroad and lumber center, and it still functions as a regional crossroads at the intersection of Interstate 59 and several US highways. The built environment is largely auto-oriented, with walkable pockets concentrated downtown and in the historic neighborhood district, a collection of Victorian-era homes that the American Planning Association has recognized. Public transit options appear limited.
Housing in the school's zip code is affordable relative to both state and national benchmarks. Home values sit well below the Mississippi statewide figure, and rents are modest. The price-to-income ratio suggests that homeownership is within reach for many local families compared to national norms, though mortgage rates remain elevated. Rents have been rising modestly while home values have held roughly flat.
The Hattiesburg Public School District has publicly reported earning an A state accountability rating for three consecutive years, along with several state and national honors. That district-level rating provides some context for the school's individual results, though a parent would want to understand how the middle school specifically contributes to that standing. No program offerings, extracurricular listings, or advanced course information was available for the school, so families would need to ask the school directly about what is offered beyond the core academic schedule.
For a family considering this school, the picture is mixed. Math and science results are reasonable for a high-poverty middle school, while reading results lag. The district carries a strong state rating. The community offers university and military institutional anchors and affordable housing. The gaps in the available data, particularly around ELA performance and specialized student services, are areas a parent may want to look into further with the school.
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