The top reported proficiency rate is 55% in Science. The lowest is 32% in English language arts.
Original Research by School Decision on Simmons Jr High School
Simmons Jr High School sits on Washington Street in Hollandale, a small Mississippi Delta town where agriculture has shaped life for generations. The school serves grades six through eight in the Hollandale School District, classified by the federal education statistics agency as rural and remote. The town itself has been losing population for decades, with a median home value far below both the state and national marks. Publicly reported research describes Hollandale as a community that has faced persistent poverty, and the housing market reflects that pressure, with values declining noticeably over the past year.
The student body is small for a middle school. Nearly every student is Black or African American, and every student qualifies for free or reduced-price meals. The school is not a charter and has no identified magnet designation. Data on students with individualized education programs and English learners was not available, so those populations cannot be characterized here.
On state assessments, results follow a recognizable pattern across the grade levels. In math, sixth-grade proficiency is low, but the share of students reaching proficiency rises meaningfully in seventh grade and holds at a comparable level in eighth. English language arts follows a similar arc, with sixth grade showing the weakest results, seventh grade improving substantially, and eighth grade settling at a moderate level. Eighth-grade science stands out as the strongest result, with a majority of tested students reaching proficiency. The sixth-grade numbers in both math and English language arts are the softest area, and a parent may want to look into this further with the school to understand the transition into middle school and what support structures are in place for incoming students.
No multi-year trend data was available, so it is not possible to say whether these results represent improvement, decline, or stability over time. Participation rates were also not reported. The state uses the MAAP assessment, with proficiency defined as reaching the top two performance levels, so these figures reflect a consistent statewide standard.
Because Simmons Jr High serves only middle grades, it has no graduation rate, no Advanced Placement data, and no college-readiness measures to report. Those gaps reflect the grade band, not a missing obligation. No information on course offerings, extracurricular programs, staffing ratios, discipline, or attendance was available in the data provided, so this account cannot speak to those aspects of school life. A family evaluating the school would want to ask directly about academic programming, teacher experience, and student support services.
The community context shapes what families encounter. Hollandale's economy has historically depended on cotton and agriculture, with the Delta and Pine Land Company, a Monsanto-owned cotton and soybean operation, identified as a continuing major employer. A catfish processing plant that once provided jobs has closed. Leroy Percy State Park, the oldest in Mississippi, sits just west of town and offers fishing, hiking, and camping. Deer Creek runs through the community. Publicly reported sources note a Mississippi Blues Trail marker honoring musician Sam Chatmon and a Country Music Trail marker for Ben Peters. No public library or public transit system was identified in available sources.
The housing market here is among the most affordable in the state. Home values sit well below the Mississippi benchmark and a fraction of the national figure, with an estimated monthly mortgage cost that is modest by any standard. For families who already live in the area, this is the existing reality. For those considering a move, it signals a place where property is inexpensive but the local economy has limited commercial activity and few major employers beyond agriculture.
The Hollandale School District brief turned up no recently reported changes in curriculum, pedagogy, taxation, or governance that would alter a parent's planning. The district has faced fiscal constraints, with publicly reported budget restraints described as ongoing, and recent infrastructure investment coming through state grants for water, sewer, and street repairs rather than school-specific funding.
What the data shows is a small, predominantly Black middle school in a rural Delta community where every student receives meal assistance. Academic results are uneven across grade levels, with the strongest showing in eighth-grade science and the weakest in sixth-grade English and math. The gaps in available data are substantial, covering staffing, programs, discipline, and special populations. Families considering Simmons Jr High should treat this picture as a starting point and seek direct conversation with school leadership about the supports and opportunities available to students.
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