MS School for Math and Science

My son graduated from MSMS and is now a Physics and Biochemistry major in college. He is planning to become a physician. MSMS was the best opportunity for him - he learned so much more at MSMS than he could've learned in public high school. MSMS has been so instrumental in his education. The curriculum and faculty of MSMS are the best!
—Submitted by a parent

MSMS changed my life and is the best thing in education MS has to offer. I came from a poverty-ridden home and horrible school and ended graduating from one of the best colleges in the US. With that said, it's not for everyone. Your child should be ready both academically and emotionally. I can tell you that many kids there are spoiled and expect things to run their way, as they probably did at home. Reality Check! Parents who complain the school is too strict need a reality check too! Firstly, the school is responsible for over 250 kids, and if you think your child should not receive the consequences set for everyone and the same ones you agreed to when you signed the papers to allow them to go, then keep your child home and let other kids who really need MSMS benefit from that rare jewel.
—Submitted by a student

I absolutely love this school. It is so far one of the best experiences of my life.
—Submitted by a student

My son is a proud graduate of Mississippi School for Mathematics and Sciences (MSMS). As a parent I found MSMS to be an excellent high school My son has since graduate college, and, has a career in NYC.
—Submitted by a parent

As a current student at MSMS I feel the need to join in on defending the school. As for the 'quasi-prison' state that the school has evolved into, this is only due to the fact that many students cannot handle the responsibility of managing themselves when they are away from their parents. If it weren't for this select group of students, these rules would not have been enacted. As for them being too harsh, the only things that are completely restricted from us students, regardless of parent involvement, are those things that could directly lead to harm or illegal activity on the student's part. Any decent parent should agree that this is a good policy to enforce. I feel that the largest flaw of MSMS is not the fault of the school. This is what my mother refers to as 'helicopter parents' who hover over their student's every move.
—Submitted by a student

Most teachers have PhDs and are more than happy to tutor one-on-one after school. The competitive environment also encourages students to develope rigorous studying habits. However, majority of the students is narrow-minded, pompous, and/or socially challenged.
—Submitted by a student

The education I recieved at MSMS is, I feel, the best I could have possibly gotten in the state of Mississippi. I have to agree that the extracurriculars are subpar but the majority of them are run by students. The SGA is very involved and makes a difference in the school and the sports teams are actually succesful in areas. Overall I would highly recommend MSMS to any student who feels they can handle the challenge of an extreme curriculum and the maturity that comes with living in a dormatory.
—Submitted by a student

I have to wonder how involved the parent is who is knocking the extra-curricular events. I'll bet they sent their child to MSMS and never knew that the 'extras' have absolutely no traditional booster organizations or the opportunity to build groups as they only have them for two years and they come from all over. I'll bet that parent never attended a game, meet, play or concert. Furthermore, if the parent who wrote the negative review was knowlegeable about the school, he or she would know that the legislavtive mandate for the school places emphasis on MATH & SCIENCE with a bulk of the funding allocated in those areas. If a students priority is to be star quarterback or drum major, MSMS may not be the place for them. By the way, the tennis team just won District, the performance groups are headed to Bransonto perform at the Welk Theater.
—Submitted by a student

MSMS is a wonderful school for students willing to accept the challenges of dorm life and advanced classes. While we do have strict rules to follow, it is for the survival of the school. Students applying to MSMS should understand that they are held to a higher standard than at their home school. Another reviewer complains that his/her child was punished for what appear to be trivial offenses, but if all students were allowed to stay up past lights out, then another wouldn t be able to sleep; if everyone used cell phones in the academic building, classes would be disrupted. While MSMS has places where it can improve, understand that we get an education we could not have elsewhere in the state. I d also stress that you should not force a student to come here, he/she must make the decision or else he/she will not last at here.
—Submitted by a student

As parents you try to do what is best for your children - we thought the best thing was to take our daughter and enroll her in MSMS. This school is for students that excell but what they do not tell you is that the school is not Regionally Accredited. Our daughter graduated with honors in advanced classes - she applied for the Hope Scholarship and was denied only because this school was not accredited by an approve agency. The school trys to justify it by saying they are working on it - MSMS was founded on 1987...20 years ago. Beware, if your child goes to this school and leaves the state for college you could have issues with scholarships and funding regardless of how talented the child. It is really a shame that our daughter was denied after all her hard work because someone at MSMS dropped the ball.
—Submitted by a parent

My daughter attended MSMS. In her two year tenure, school has evolved into a quasi-prison state, but the academics were exemplary and provided many students with extensive scholarship opportunities. Do not send your children here if they are inflexible or cannot manage the trials and tribulations of boarding school life. The rules are far too strict and need immediate reform. My daughter was punished for the most minor offenses, such as staying up past 1:00 am to study or using her cell phone in the academic building. The vast majority of extracurricular activities are poorly organized, as are other non-academic related areas, such as band, choir, sports, etc. The school sports a wonderful faculty.
—Submitted by a parent