The Mississippi Department of Education (MDE) established the Mississippi Blue Ribbon School program, following the termination of the U.S. Department of Education’s former National Blue Ribbon Schools Program in August, 2025. This state-level program continues the annual recognition of the state’s highest-performing schools.
The Mississippi Blue Ribbon School designation continues with the same criteria for selection as the national program and carries the same level of prestige. The recognition highlights schools that excel in academic performance and/or make significant strides in closing achievement gaps among different student groups.
Schools are recognized in both or either of two performance categories:
Schools do not need to request consideration to be included in the nomination process. Four schools will be nominated annually. There are annual nomination guidelines that include eligibility requirements and nomination criteria. At least one-third of the nominated public schools must enroll a high percentage of students from disadvantaged backgrounds.
Mississippi Public Blue Ribbon Schools
(Past five years):
2025
Bayou View Elementary School, Gulfport School District
Beach Elementary School, Pascagoula-Gautier School District
Ocean Springs High School, Ocean Springs School District
2024
Magnolia Park Elementary School, Ocean Springs
Mannsdale Upper Elementary School, Madison
Ripley High School, Ripley
Stone Elementary School, Wiggins
2023
Caledonia High School, Lowndes County
Laurel Magnet School of the Arts, Laurel School District
Lewisburg Elementary School, DeSoto County
2022
Florence Elementary School, Rankin County
Hayes Cooper Center, Cleveland
Oak Grove Lower Elementary School, Lamar County
Petal High School, Petal
2021
Brandon Elementary School, Brandon
Della Davidson Elementary School, Oxford
East Hancock Elementary School, Kiln
Woolmarket Elementary School, Biloxi
