The top reported proficiency rate is 41% in Science. The lowest is 27% in Math.
Original Research by School Decision on Shannon Middle School
Shannon Middle School sits on Cherry Street in the small Lee County town of Shannon, Mississippi, serving grades six through eight as part of the Lee County School District. It is a traditional public school, not a charter or magnet, and its enrollment is modest for its grade band, with roughly equal numbers across the three grades. The student body is majority Black, with a substantial white minority and a small Hispanic presence. A majority of students qualify for free or reduced-price meals. The school does not report IEP or English-learner figures, so those populations are unknown from the available data.
On state assessments, the picture is mixed and, in several grades, genuinely weak. Math proficiency is low in sixth grade, rises sharply in seventh grade to a level that approaches a respectable share of students testing proficient, then falls back in eighth grade to a level near the sixth-grade result. English language arts follows a steadier pattern, climbing from sixth through eighth grade, with the strongest showing in eighth grade. Eighth-grade science proficiency sits at a moderate level, above the math results for the same grade. Across subjects and grades, seventh grade stands out as the school's strongest cohort, while sixth-grade math is the clearest soft spot. A parent weighing this school may want to look into what supports are available for students struggling in early-grade math, and whether the seventh-grade result reflects something the school is doing differently that could extend to other grades.
No multi-year trend data was available, so there is no way to tell from the provided information whether these results are improving, stable, or declining over time. Participation rates were also missing across all tested grades and subjects. The school does not report course access, staffing ratios, attendance, or discipline data, so the available academic picture is limited to proficiency results alone. Graduation rates do not apply here, since Shannon Middle serves only middle school grades.
Shannon itself is a quiet, primarily residential rural town with roots in cotton farming and railroad commerce. Publicly reported sources describe it as a place offering relaxed country living oriented around family and community. The built environment consists of small-town residential streets and a modest commercial strip along Broad Street, with no dense walkable core. The town sits near Mississippi Highway 145 and U.S. Route 45, and Chiwapa Creek flows south of the community. The most prominent local employer is General Atomics, which operates a manufacturing and test facility nearby, with much of its work tied to the U.S. Navy. Warehousing also appears as a local industry sector. Beyond that, the local economy is thin, and no other major employers were identified in the available research.
The town's population has declined over the past several census cycles, and the most recent estimates continue that downward drift. The town website speaks of diversifying the economy and welcoming new residents, but no specific new housing developments were identified. The civic landscape centers on Town Hall, a post office, volunteer fire department, police department, and a Natchez Trace Parkway RV Park that serves as a recreational anchor. No public library was found within Shannon town limits; library service would likely come through Lee County.
Housing in Shannon is affordable compared with both the state and national benchmarks. The typical home value sits well below the Mississippi state figure and far below the national figure, though home values have been appreciating at a brisk pace recently. Mortgage costs against local incomes are modest by national standards, which may appeal to families looking to buy rather than rent. Rental data was not available for this location.
For a family considering Shannon Middle School, the core academic question is straightforward: proficiency results are uneven, with real weakness in math at the entry and exit grades and a brighter spot in seventh grade. ELA and science are comparatively steadier. The school is small enough that every cohort's performance can shift meaningfully from year to year, and the missing trend data makes it hard to separate a one-year result from a longer pattern. The surrounding community is rural, quiet, and affordable, with a limited but real employment base anchored by a single major manufacturer. Parents would likely want to ask the school directly about math intervention, what drives the seventh-grade result, and what the transition into and out of this school looks like for students feeding into Lee County's high schools.
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