State lawmakers have been encouraged to move the Mississippi School for Mathematics and Science (MSMS) from its existing home.
After considering proposals from the Mississippi University for Women (MUW), where MSMS currently resides, and Mississippi State University (MSU), the State Board of Education is encouraging local lawmakers to consider relocating the magnet school to Starkville.
Established during the 1987 legislative session, MSMS has served to accommodate academically gifted high school juniors and seniors. It has been housed at MUW in Columbus since its inception. However, MSMS officials have contemplated the prospect of relocating to Starkville in the past.
In December, the State Board of Education launched an MSMS subcommittee to explore ways to strengthen the school’s operations and ensure the continued growth of the academic institution. MSU and MUW were later asked to submit proposals that would increase enrollment and educational opportunities for MSMS students.
Two months later, education officials opened up a comment period, allowing the public to weigh in on whether MSMS should remain put or if it should undergo a change of venue. Any relocation would not occur until the start of the 2026-27 school year.
After reviewing both universities’ proposals and accounting for stakeholder feedback, the State Board of Legislature unanimously voted to promote Mississippi State being the future host site of MSMS. That move, of course, cannot be made unless approved by the state legislature.
MSU, in collaboration with the Starkville Oktibbeha Consolidated School District, is eyeing MSMS to be part of the next phase of expansion. The university currently hosts Partnership Middle School — the nation’s only school in the country that serves all district students in partnership with a college or university. The next step is to move up to the high school ranks.
In addition to the construction of a new campus for Starkville High School, MSU has proposed a residential magnet school focused on science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics — which would be the new MSMS location. The venues would be located on the corner of George Perry Drive and Highway 182
MSU has committed $86 million to the construction of the facilities, including dorm spaces for MSMS students. University officials are also asking the state legislature to chip in a near-matching $85 million for the project. The goal is to have everything up and running at the start of the 2027-28 school year if given the green light by lawmakers.
MUW, in its efforts to retain the magnet school, is appealing to its longstanding partnership with MSMS as a primary contention for the state to avoid moving forward with a relocation to MSU. In its proposal, the university also vowed to update residential areas in addition to reiterating its dedication to meeting the needs of some of the state’s most gifted students.
Last year, the two dorms housing MSMS students underwent major bathroom renovations. One building has had an interior paint job done, and the other is expected to be painted this summer. As part of MUW’s master plan, which has included feedback from MSMS, two spaces have been identified for new facilities. Per officials, one or both could be residential. Two vacant residential facilities could each undergo an estimated $22 million facelift to shelter MSMS pupils.
Both proposals can be assessed here.
