Education

Colleges and Continuing Education Programs

The Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College,
located in Gautier, Mississippi, offers two-year
degrees and certification courses in a number of fields. MGCCC also provides critical support to local industry with a number of training and continuing education offerings developed around the area’s specific training needs. The University of Southern Mississippi - Jackson County is also located on the Jackson County Campus of the Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College in Gautier. This center offers courses and services for the convenience of students in Jackson County.

K-12

Jackson County has four separate public school districts: Jackson County School District includes St. Martin area schools, Vancleave area schools, and East Central area schools; Pascagoula Separate School District includes both City of Pascagoula and City of Gautier schools; Moss Point Separate School District; and Ocean Springs School district.

The Jackson County School District includes 3 high schools, 3 middle schools, 8 elementary schools, 2 attendance centers, 1 vocational center, and 1 alternative school. The Jackson County School District has approximately 9,000 students currently enrolled and about 700 teachers employed. The teacher-pupil ratio is roughly 1:13. For more information please visit the Jackson County School District website.

The Ocean Springs School District has about 5,600 students currently enrolled and includes 1 high school, 1 middle school, 4 elementary schools, 1 technology center (for grades 10-12), and 1 alternative education center. Each school has a teacher-pupil ratio of 1:17 and the technology center has a ratio of 1:27. For more information please visit the Ocean Springs School District website.

Jackson County and Ocean Springs school districts are consistently ranked among the top in the State and are level 5 accredited, with efforts being made by the other districts to obtain the maximum level of accreditation.

The Pascagoula School District has approximately 7,500 students currently enrolled in 2 high schools, 3 middle schools, 11 elementary schools, 1 opportunity center, and 1 exceptional school. There are over 650 teachers currently employed by the Pascagoula School District making the teacher-pupil ratio about 1:11.

The Pascagoula School District consists of 2 Blue Ribbon high schools and has received an accreditation level of 4 out of 5 from the Mississippi Department of Education Office of Accreditation. Superintendent, Wayne V. Rodolfich, received the Terrell H. Bell Award from the U.S. Department of Education Secretary Margaret Spellings in 2005 and was awarded the Governor’s Award for Perseverance as a result of damage sustained during Hurricane Katrina in 2006. For more information please visit the Pascagoula School District website.

The Moss Point School District includes 1 high school, 1 junior high, 6 elementary schools, 1 alternative school and hosts approximately 3,050 students. For more information visit the Moss Point School District website.

More information regarding Mississippi’s public school accountability standards (PDF) »

Private Schools – K-12

Jackson County, Mississippi currently has 9 private schools:

More information regarding Mississippi’s nonpublic school accountability standards (PDF) »

Pre-K, Daycare & Head Start programs

Jackson County, Mississippi currently has over 40 pre-k and daycare programs.

• More information on Mississippi’s pre-k curriculum please (PDF) »
• More information regarding Mississippi's pre-k curriculum guidelines for three year old children click here (PDF) »
• More information regarding child care facility regulations please click here (PDF) »

Jackson County Head Start is a nationally accredited, federally funded, comprehensive child-development program. The program serves three- and four-year old children from low-income families. Head Start programs are funded by Department of Health and Human Services/Administration for children, youth and families. The goal of Head Start is to break the cycle of poverty by working with children and strengthening the family unit. Head Start approaches this goal through a comprehensive program that involves parents and the community in three (3) component areas:

• Early Childhood Development and Health Services. This unit makes available to children, health, mental health, nutrition, disability services, and child development services.
• Family and Community Partnership. This unit is designed to establish a firm foundation giving families an opportunity to enhance their child’s educational experience and strengthen the family unit. The program engages in collaborative partnerships with families and community.
• Program Design and Management. Involves parents in governance and operation of the Head Start process.

There are currently 9 Head Start centers located throughout Jackson County, MS. For more information on Jackson County’s Head Start program please call visit Mississippi’s official Head Start website.

For any other inquiries regarding education resources in Jackson County, Mississippi please visit the Mississippi Department of Education »