STATE OF EDUCATION FUNDING
Mississippi
Strong schools build strong communities, and that starts with fair and transparent funding. Our State Ratings Rubric shows how Mississippi is doing when it comes to making sure every student gets the resources they need to thrive. Using criteria grounded in research, best practices, and what we know works for students, we rate Mississippi across five key areas: whether the state funds students adequately, funds student needs equitably, funds districts appropriately, funds students transparently and effectively, and keeps public dollars in public schools.
To explore ratings across Southern states and learn more about the criteria we use, click here.
State Ratings Rubric:
Hover over ratings for more information.
Last updated: May 2026
| Component | Description | Rating | Explanation |
|---|---|---|---|
| FUND STUDENTS ADEQUATELY | |||
| Funding Adequacy | Per-student funding is at or above the national average ($17,853 for the 2022-23 school year). | Per-student funding was $4,294 less than the national average in the 2022-23 school year. | |
| Yearly Increases | Base funding for all students increases every year to account for inflation. | The per-student base amount increased by 5.2% for the 2026-27 school year, from $6,847 to $7,202. | |
| Progressive Tax Policies | The state maintains healthy revenue sources for schools. | No major reforms to property, income, or sales tax in 2026. | |
| FUND STUDENT NEEDS EQUITABLY | |||
| Student-Based Formula | The funding formula is primarily student-based. | Primarily student-based formula. | |
| Students from Low-Income Backgrounds | The state provides additional funds for students from low-income backgrounds. | 30% weight. | |
| English Learners | The state provides additional funds for English Learners. | 15% weight. | |
| Students with Disabilities | The state provides additional funds for students with disabilities, based on their needs. | Three different weights based on the type of disability, ranging from 60% to 130%. | |
| FUND DISTRICTS APPROPRIATELY | |||
| Cost Sharing | The state requires local governments to share the cost based on their ability to pay. | Local governments must share the cost, but high-wealth areas are not required to contribute more than 27%. | |
| Local Revenue Cap | The state limits wealthy districts from contributing excessively more than other districts. | The state sets a cap that voters can override. | |
| Rural Districts | Small districts and districts with few students per square mile (“sparse districts”) receive additional funds. | Additional funding for sparse districts for transportation, ranging from 1% to 8% per student. | |
| Concentrated Poverty | Districts with high concentrations of poverty receive additional funds. | 10% weight. | |
| FUND STUDENTS TRANSPARENTLY & EFFECTIVELY | |||
| Formula Transparency | The funding formula is easy to understand and clearly explained. | The formula is easy to understand and clearly explained. | |
| Funding Data | The state shares detailed, timely, and user-friendly public data on districts’ funding. | Data only shows total funding for each district. | |
| District Spending Plans | The state requires districts to share public reports about how they invest funds to meet students' needs. | No requirement. | |
| Formula Review | The state requires a clear, stakeholder-led process to evaluate the formula and recommend improvements. | The formula must be recalculated every four years, but does not require stakeholder engagement. | |
| FUND PUBLIC SCHOOLS EXCLUSIVELY | |||
| Vouchers | The state does not divert public funds to private schools through voucher programs, education savings accounts, or scholarship tax credits. | The state has different programs providing vouchers or education savings accounts to students with disabilities. | |
Who’s Who
in Mississippi
Legislature
The Mississippi Legislature is a bicameral body. The Mississippi House of Representatives has 122 members and the State Senate has 52 members. Both the House and the Senate have standing Education Policy committees that hear all related education legislation.
State Superintendent of Education
The Mississippi State Superintendent of Education is appointed by the Mississippi Board of Education. The State Superintendent oversees the Mississippi Department of Education and the state’s PK-12 schools.
State Board of Education
The Mississippi Board of Education is composed of nine members. Three of the members are appointed by the governor from each of the state’s Supreme Court districts. Two remaining gubernatorial appointees are required to be a school administrator and a public school teacher. The lieutenant governor and speaker of the Mississippi House also each appoint two at-large members.
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