byTorsheta Jackson
The Mississippi State Board of Education voted unanimously to recommend relocating the Mississippi School for Mathematics and Science to Mississippi State University during its March 20 meeting. The move would occur starting with the 2026-27 school year if the Legislature approves the action.
“Mississippi State University is pleased that the State Board of Education saw the obvious merit in the proposal they requested from us,” MSU Vice President for Strategic Communications Sid Salter told the Mississippi Free Press after the vote on March 20. “If authorized by the Mississippi Legislature, we look forward to providing an exceptional experience for students chosen to attend MSMS.”
During its December 2024 meeting, the Mississippi Department of Education created the MSMS subcommittee to explore options for the school’s future. The committee invited both MUW and MSU to submit proposals to expand MSMS—a move that MUW officials said was unexpected. The committee also invited public comment until March 4.
The MSMS Subcommittee recommended the move during its meeting on March 19. MDE Board member Dr. Ronnie McGehee said the committee rated the proposals out of 400 points. Mississippi State University earned 363 points, and Mississippi University for Women earned 304 points.
“After evaluating proposals from both universities and reviewing written feedback from stakeholders, the SBE determined that MSU offers advantages for the future growth of MSMS, while acknowledging the foundation established through its history on the campus of MUW,” an MDE press release said on March 20.
Members of the board pondered how a transition would happen.
“MUW has been our site since 1987, and with this, you don’t move it overnight, in my opinion,” McGehee, who chaired the MSMS subcommittee, told the board.
“I do think that moving forward, we need to discuss the processes and procedures about what would be best for our young people,” he added.
Most of those questions cannot be answered. The Mississippi Department of Education can only make recommendations to the Legislature.
“Our world’s changing from a digital standpoint—not necessarily direct instruction, but other types of instruction and going forward—and we need to see what’s best for our young people going forward,” McGehee said.
The Mississippi Legislature created the Mississippi School for Mathematics and Science during the 1987 legislative session. It is a residential high school for academically gifted 11th and 12th-grade students. Mississippi University for Women has housed the school since it opened.
“MUW faculty wrote the original rationale, proposal, and plan that established the school,” the press release said. “Since its inception, MSMS has served more than 3,000 graduates through its rigorous programming.”
MUW officials argued that history and the university’s commitment to financially supporting MSMS is why the university is the best choice for the school. They said their proposal was the only one that maintained the stand-alone identity of MSMS.
“We are proud of our history and support of MSMS. We believe that our proposal best aligns with MSMS’s mission and allows for improved facilities at a lower cost for Mississippi taxpayers. MSU’s proposal did not address operating costs,” Communications Diretor Tyler Wheat told the Mississippi Free Press on March 20. “With adjustments to bring those decades-old numbers to current market rate, our proposal is still the most fiscally responsible and sensible investment for the state’s taxpayers. The Legislature should consider recurring operating costs in addition to facilities costs with the best interests of MSMS students in mind.”
In the MDE press release, Board Chair Glen East thanked MUW for its years of service to MSMS.
“The SBE is grateful to the Mississippi University for Women for its decades of service supporting MSMS,” said Glen East, SBE chair. “MUW’s partnership with MSMS has established the school’s reputation for excellence and created a strong foundation that has benefited thousands of Mississippi’s brightest students. Our recommendation reflects our assessment of future growth possibilities and academic opportunities for MSMS students; it is not intended to diminish MUW’s contributions to the success of MSMS.”
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Torsheta Jackson is MFP's education-equity reporter, in collaboration with Report for America. She is passionate about telling the unique and personal stories of the people, places and events in Mississippi. The Shuqualak, Miss., native holds a B.A. in Mass Communication from the University of Southern Mississippi and an M.A. in Curriculum and Instruction from the University of Mississippi. She has had bylines on Bash Brothers Media, Mississippi Scoreboard and in the Jackson Free Press. Torsheta lives in Richland, Miss., with her husband, Victor, and two of their four children.
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