Mississippi Education Report Card

The Magnolia State: Overall C+

Mississippi protects homeschool families about as well as any state, and opening a microschool requires zero state approval. Outside special education, school choice barely exists.

Microschools — B

Microschools are small schools with fewer than 15 students. Most are run by former school teachers.

No registration, licensing, or accreditation required to open
No teacher certification or curriculum approval required
Nonpublic schools skip state testing and health code food rules

Improvements

Permit microschools in commercial, residential, and agricultural zones

School Choice Policy — C-

School choice covers education spending accounts, vouchers, charter schools, and open enrollment.

Special Needs ESA for students with an active IEP
Dyslexia Therapy Scholarship for students with a dyslexia diagnosis
Nate Rogers Scholarship pays private schools directly for K-6 students with speech-language impairments
Charter schools can only open in districts with a D or F grade
Open enrollment needs both districts to agree; districts can trap students

Improvements

Make the ESA universal; the reimbursement system already exists
End the sending district’s veto over transfers

Homeschooling — A-

Homeschooling means parents take full responsibility for their child’s education, many use a co-op, part time school, or one off courses.

One certificate of enrollment filed each year, no fee, no approval needed
No required subjects, testing, curriculum approval, or credentials
State law protects a parent’s right to choose their child’s education

Improvements

Give homeschoolers access to extracurricular activities; the House passed it twice; the Senate blocked it both times

Extra Credit: Turning Reading Scores Around

In 2013, Mississippi ranked 49th in 4th-grade reading. The state passed the Literacy-Based Promotion Act and built its instruction around the Science of Reading, requiring students to read at grade level before leaving third grade. By 2024, Mississippi 4th graders outscored the national average for the first time. Not at the top, but no longer at the bottom.

Helpful Links for Parents

This is part of a series where we review and rate education access in every state in the country. Get more information here.

Author: Jon England is the Senior Education Policy Analyst at Libertas Institute. He is a fourteen-year veteran of public schools. He taught both fifth and sixth grades, receiving Weber District’s E+ Team Award. He proudly homeschools his children with his wife.

Jon received his bachelor’s degree in elementary education from the University of Utah and a master’s degree in educational leadership from Western Governors University. He spent time in the Marine Corps and separated as a sergeant in 2006.

During his time in public schools, Jon increasingly understood the importance of parental empowerment in education. This increased understanding led him to join Libertas to provide educational freedom for families. Jon enjoys spending time with his wife and five children traveling, skiing, and playing games.

Published: June, 2026