Rachael Ellis Assistant to State Superintendent | Linkedin
The Mississippi Department of Education (MDE) has announced the addition of 20 new schools to its Military Star Schools program for the period 2025-27. This brings the total number of designated schools in the state to 103. The designation acknowledges schools that have demonstrated a strong commitment to supporting military families and children of service members.
To qualify as a Military Star School, institutions must fulfill specific criteria that cater to the unique needs of military students and their families. These requirements include appointing a dedicated school liaison for military families, offering student-led transition services and peer support, ensuring staff receive professional development to address the needs of military students and families, and publicly recognizing service members and their families.
The newly designated schools are spread across several districts:
- Gulfport School District: Pass Road Elementary
- Harrison County School District: Creekbend Elementary School, D’Iberville Elementary School, D’Iberville Middle School, Harrison Central High School, North Gulfport Elementary School, North Gulfport Middle School, West Harrison High School, West Wortham Elementary School, West Wortham Middle School, Woolmarket Elementary School
- Jackson Public Schools: Forest Hill High School, Lanier High School, Murrah High School, Provine High School
- Lauderdale County School District: Southeast Lauderdale Elementary School
- Newton County School District: Newton County Elementary School
- Pass Christian Public School District: Pass Christian High School
- Petal School District: Petal Elementary School
- Rankin County School District: Northwest Rankin High School, Rankin County Learning Center
Governor Tate Reeves established the Military Star Schools program in February 2022 through Executive Order 1561. At that time, Mississippi became one of 31 states with a formal program recognizing schools that support military families. In 2024, 31 schools received this designation for the period 2024-26.
The program aims to assist schools in addressing educational and social-emotional challenges faced by military-connected children during transitions to new schools while keeping them on track for college readiness and life skills. "Military-connected" refers to children of active-duty service members as well as those in the National Guard and Reserves.
The Military Star designation is valid for two years. Schools can reapply to maintain their status or apply anew in subsequent years.
For more information about all Military Star Schools or other MDE news releases visit mdek12.org/news.
This article was updated on June 3, 2025, correcting an earlier report which mistakenly stated that 21 new Military Star Schools were named due to a classification error on a school's application.
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