Public schools in Meridian, MS
21 open public schools with an address in Meridian, operated by 2 education agencies. Compare size, staffing, grade spans, and school type, then confirm assignment with the district.
Public schools
21
NCES preliminary directory 2025–26
Reported students
9,253
20 schools reporting · NCES 2024–25
Median student–teacher ratio
13:1
Mississippi median 13.9:1
Charter schools
0
0 virtual
An overview of Meridian public schools
The federal directory lists 21 public schools in Meridian, MS: 9 elementary, 4 middle, 6 high, 2 combined or other. The 20 schools that reported 2024–25 membership enrolled 9,253 students, an average of 463 per school. The largest campus is Meridian High School (1,253 students), and the largest elementary school is West Lauderdale Elementary School (761).
Meridian Public Schools operates the most schools here (11), and 2 regular districts have at least one Meridian 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 13:1, lower 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.
Among 5 high and combined schools with 2021–22 civil-rights data, 4 reported students enrolled in AP courses and 4 of 5 reported computer-science classes. Confirm current course catalogs directly with each school.
About 79% 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 Meridian
Elementary schools in Meridian
9| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Carver Elementary School Meridian Public Schools | KG–05 | 506 | 16.4:1 | |
| Clarkdale Elementary School Lauderdale County School District | PK–06 | 527 | 14.5:1 | |
| Crestwood Elementary Meridian Public Schools | KG–05 | 368 | 16.4:1 | |
| Northeast Elementary School Lauderdale County School District | PK–04 | 730 | 13.2:1 | |
| Parkview Elementary Meridian Public Schools | KG–05 | 364 | 12.7:1 | |
| Poplar Springs Elementary Meridian Public Schools | KG–05 | 405 | 14.6:1 | |
| Southeast Elementary School Lauderdale County School District | PK–04 | 562 | 16.7:1 | |
| West Hills Elementary Meridian Public Schools | KG–05 | 423 | 15.7:1 | |
| West Lauderdale Elementary School Lauderdale County School District | PK–04 | 761 | 17.2:1 |
Middle schools in Meridian
4| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Magnolia Middle School Meridian Public Schools | 06–08 | 440 | 13:1 | |
| Northeast Middle School Lauderdale County School District | 05–08 | 520 | 11.9:1 | |
| Northwest Middle School Meridian Public Schools | 06–08 | 484 | 12.5:1 | |
| Southeast Middle School Lauderdale County School District | 05–08 | 371 | 12.4:1 |
High schools in Meridian
6| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Clarkdale High School Lauderdale County School District | 07–13 | 422 | 11.1:1 | |
| Lcsd CTE Center Lauderdale County School District · Career and Technical School | 08–12 | — | — | |
| Meridian High School Meridian Public Schools | 09–13 | 1,253 | 11:1 | |
| Northeast High School Lauderdale County School District | 09–13 | 608 | 12.3:1 | |
| Ross Collins Voc Center Meridian Public Schools · Career and Technical School | 08–12 | 0 | — | |
| Southeast Lauderdale High School Lauderdale County School District | 09–13 | 367 | 11:1 |
Combined, early-childhood, and other schools in Meridian
2| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Marion Park Complex Meridian Public Schools · Alternative School | 01–12 | 0 | — | |
| Meridian PreK Academy Meridian Public Schools | PK–PK | 142 | 12.9:1 |
Student demographics
Race and ethnicity share of reported enrollment
- White30.2%
- Hispanic3.8%
- Black61.8%
- Asian0.7%
- American Indian / Alaska Native0.1%
- Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander0.1%
- Multiracial3.3%
Enrollment-weighted across 18 Meridian schools with NCES CCD 2024–25 race/ethnicity counts (9,253 students). Privacy suppression can leave small gaps.
Questions about public schools in Meridian
How many public schools are in Meridian, MS?
The current NCES directory lists 21 open public schools with a location address in Meridian: 9 elementary, 4 middle, 6 high, 2 combined or other. Together they reported 9,253 students in 2024–25. The count includes charter, alternative, and special-purpose public schools; it excludes private schools.
Which school districts serve Meridian?
Schools with an address in Meridian belong to 2 education agencies, led by Meridian Public Schools (11 schools), Lauderdale County School District (10 schools). A mailing city is not an attendance boundary; confirm the district for a specific address.
What is the largest public high school in Meridian?
Meridian High School reported the largest high-school enrollment in Meridian, with 1,253 students in 2024–25 (grades 09–13). Size is a description of the campus, not a quality measure.
Are there charter schools in Meridian?
No school with an address in Meridian 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 Meridian schools?
The median reported student–teacher ratio across Meridian public schools is 13:1, lower 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 Meridian 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