Pine Belt Times

Among the ethnicities represented in Perry County schools, white was the most prevalent among the county students in the 2023-24 school year, according to the Mississippi Department of Education.

Of the 1,475 students attending Perry County schools, 67% were white. Black students were the second most common ethnicity, making up 26.5% of Perry County student body.

In the previous school year, white students were also the most common group in Perry County, representing 68.8% of the student body.

South Perry Elementary School had the most diverse student body in Perry County including Black, white, and multiracial.

In the 2023-24 school year, the total number of students enrolled in public schools in the county dropped 3.6% when compared to the previous year.

Mississippi's schools, with an enrollment of 436,523 in the 2023-24 academic year, are mostly divided between two ethnicities, with Black or African American students being the largest racial group at 46.86%, followed by white students at 42.14%.

Students in the state showed a significant improvement in the 2022-23 academic year, demonstrating sustained progress in their post-pandemic recovery. Overall, 87% of schools and 91% of districts achieved a grade of C or better, compared to 81% of schools and 87% of districts in the prior year.

Results from the 2022-23 Mississippi Academic Assessment Program (MAAP) showed students reaching an all-time high in all core subjects. Students better performed on the Math and English portion of the test, achieving grades around 5% better than in the previous year.

School name	Most prevalent ethnicity	% of Total Student Population	Total Enrollment
South Perry Elementary School	White	53.9%	217
Perry Central High School	White	61.8%	272
Richton High School	White	71.8%	284
Perry Central Middle School	White	67%	203
Runnelstown Elementary School	White	78%	200
Richton Elementary School	White	69.2%	299