The top reported proficiency rate is 61% in Science. The lowest is 45% in English language arts.
Original Research by School Decision on Guntown Middle School
Guntown Middle School sits in the northern reaches of the Tupelo micropolitan area, part of the Lee County School District. Publicly reported accounts describe Guntown as a residential community that has grown rapidly over recent decades, evolving from a railroad station village into a small city with commercial activity concentrated along its highway corridors. The older eastern core near the tracks gives way to newer development pushing west toward U.S. Route 45, and the city maintains an active Planning and Development department. Baldwyn lies just to the north and Saltillo to the south. The layout is largely auto-dependent, with no dedicated walkability data available from public sources. City Hall sits on Main Street, as does the school, suggesting a civic presence along the traditional town center.
The school serves grades six through eight and draws a student body that is predominantly white, with smaller Black, Hispanic, Asian, and multiracial populations. Nearly half of the students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch. The school is not a charter school. Data on individualized education programs and English learner services was not reported, so those population sizes are unknown. Title I status was also not available.
On Mississippi's MAAP assessments for the most recent school year, Guntown Middle's math proficiency rates were solid across all three grades. Seventh grade showed the strongest performance, with a clear majority of students reaching proficient or above. Eighth grade landed just above the halfway mark, and sixth grade sat at roughly the same level. English language arts results were more mixed. Sixth and eighth grades each had just under half of students proficient, while seventh grade was the soft spot, with fewer than half reaching that bar. Science, tested only in eighth grade, was a bright spot, with a clear majority scoring proficient or above.
Average scale scores rose from sixth through eighth grade in both math and English language arts, which is expected as students move through the curriculum. 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.
Housing in the Guntown zip code is modestly priced relative to national figures, sitting below the national benchmark though slightly above the statewide Mississippi level. Home values have been appreciating at a pace that outstrips both state and national rates. Estimated monthly mortgage costs are manageable relative to typical incomes, with a price-to-income ratio well below the national norm. Rent data was not available for this area, so families considering rental options near the school would need to look elsewhere for current market conditions. The broader economic backdrop includes a steady national unemployment rate and mortgage rates that have fluctuated within a narrow band in recent months.
Several categories parents often ask about were missing from the available data. No discipline statistics, course access details, staffing ratios, or attendance figures were reported. No program offerings, such as advanced courses, arts, athletics, or extracurriculars, were listed. The school's locale classification, which would describe whether it is rural, suburban, or urban, was not provided. A search for recent district-level changes in Lee County School District, such as bond referendums or strategic priorities, returned no results, so nothing could be confirmed there. No major employers in Guntown were identified in available public sources, though the city's position within the Tupelo micropolitan area suggests some residents commute to Tupelo for work.
What the available data shows is a middle school in a growing community with steady math and science results, mixed English language arts outcomes, and a student body that reflects a small Mississippi town in transition. Because Guntown Middle serves only middle grades, it has no graduation rate and no state testing outside those grade bands, so those measures do not apply here. Families considering the school would benefit from asking directly about instructional supports in English language arts, particularly at seventh grade, and about the programs and services that public data does not capture.
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