Public schools in Canton, MS
12 open public schools with an address in Canton, operated by 2 education agencies. Compare size, staffing, grade spans, and school type, then confirm assignment with the district.
Public schools
12
NCES preliminary directory 2025–26
Reported students
4,193
12 schools reporting · NCES 2024–25
Median student–teacher ratio
15.6:1
Mississippi median 13.9:1
Charter schools
0
0 virtual
An overview of Canton public schools
The federal directory lists 12 public schools in Canton, MS: 6 elementary, 3 middle, 2 high, 1 combined or other. The 12 schools that reported 2024–25 membership enrolled 4,193 students, an average of 349 per school. The largest campus is Canton High School (899 students), and the largest elementary school is Madison Crossing Elementary (761).
Canton Public Schools operates the most schools here (9), and 2 regular districts have at least one Canton campus. City names come from school mailing addresses, which often differ from district or municipal boundaries.
Across schools that reported staffing, the median student–teacher ratio is 15.6:1, higher than the statewide school median of 13.9:1. A ratio counts classroom-teacher FTE against total enrollment, so specialized programs and part-time staffing can move it; ask schools for actual class sizes by grade.
About 89% of students in reporting schools were eligible for free or reduced-price meals in 2024–25. This describes the community served; it is not a quality signal, and community-eligibility schools can report differently.
School districts and agencies serving Canton
Elementary schools in Canton
6| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Canton Elementary School Canton Public Schools | PK–05 | 411 | 17.1:1 | |
| Jimmie M Goodloe Elementary Canton Public Schools | PK–05 | 366 | 15.3:1 | |
| Luther Branson Elementary Madison County Schools | PK–05 | 151 | 8:1 | |
| Madison Crossing Elementary Madison County Schools | KG–05 | 761 | 15.9:1 | |
| McNeal Elementary School Canton Public Schools | PK–05 | 385 | 17.4:1 | |
| Reuben B. Myers Arts & Sciences Canton Public Schools | PK–05 | 378 | 15.8:1 |
Middle schools in Canton
3| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Huey L Porter Middle Canton Public Schools | 06–08 | 356 | 13:1 | |
| Nichols Middle School Canton Public Schools | 06–08 | 362 | 12.9:1 | |
| Shirley D. Simmons Middle School Madison County Schools | 06–08 | 124 | 6.4:1 |
High schools in Canton
2| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Canton Career Center Canton Public Schools · Career and Technical School | 08–12 | 0 | — | |
| Canton High School Canton Public Schools | 09–12 | 899 | 18:1 |
Combined, early-childhood, and other schools in Canton
1| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Canton Educational Services Center Canton Public Schools · Alternative School | 01–12 | 0 | — |
Student demographics
Race and ethnicity share of reported enrollment
- White7.5%
- Hispanic14.5%
- Black73.9%
- Asian0.7%
- American Indian / Alaska Native0%
- Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander0%
- Multiracial3%
Enrollment-weighted across 10 Canton schools with NCES CCD 2024–25 race/ethnicity counts (4,193 students). Privacy suppression can leave small gaps.
Questions about public schools in Canton
How many public schools are in Canton, MS?
The current NCES directory lists 12 open public schools with a location address in Canton: 6 elementary, 3 middle, 2 high, 1 combined or other. Together they reported 4,193 students in 2024–25. The count includes charter, alternative, and special-purpose public schools; it excludes private schools.
Which school districts serve Canton?
Schools with an address in Canton belong to 2 education agencies, led by Canton Public Schools (9 schools), Madison County Schools (3 schools). A mailing city is not an attendance boundary; confirm the district for a specific address.
What is the largest public high school in Canton?
Canton High School reported the largest high-school enrollment in Canton, with 899 students in 2024–25 (grades 09–12). Size is a description of the campus, not a quality measure.
Are there charter schools in Canton?
No school with an address in Canton is identified as a charter school in the current NCES directory. Families may still have charter or virtual options elsewhere in Mississippi.
What is the typical student–teacher ratio in Canton schools?
The median reported student–teacher ratio across Canton public schools is 15.6:1, higher than the Mississippi school median of 13.9:1. The ratio divides enrollment by classroom-teacher FTE; it is not an average class size.
Does living in Canton guarantee a seat at a specific school?
No. Assignment depends on the district's attendance boundaries, programs, and enrollment rules, which can split a city or cross city lines. Use the district profile and its official boundary or school-locator tool to confirm the assigned school for an exact address.
Nearby Mississippi cities
Sources: NCES Common Core of Data 2025–26 preliminary directory (schools, grades, addresses, charter status) and 2024–25 nonfiscal files (enrollment, teachers, race/ethnicity, meal eligibility); Civil Rights Data Collection 2021–22 (AP and computer science). Cities are grouped by school mailing address. Methodology · All Mississippi cities