6. Mississippi School for Mathematics and Science
This school in Columbus, Mississippi, has an average SAT score of 1360 and an average ACT score of 30. It has a student enrollment of 245 and a student-teacher ratio of 11:1. Proficiency in mathematics and reading is 100%. MSMS was established in 1987 and is the only public residential high school for academically gifted students in Mississippi. Students come from all over Mississippi to live on campus, choosing to spend their last two years living away from home. MSMS is located on the campus of the Mississippi University for Women, but students are kept separate from the university students, with the exception of a few shared facilities.
All faculty members hold master’s degrees, and several have their Ph.D. All have extensive teaching experience. The main focus is on mathematics and science, but the humanities are also emphasized. The students also impact other students across Mississippi with outreach programs, and quality educational leadership is provided for other educators.