On Feb. 26, Mississippi State University and the Mississippi University for Women submitted proposals to the Mississippi Department of Education to potentially become the new home for the Mississippi School for Mathematics and Science, after MDE requested them earlier this month.
MSMS, a public residential high school for academically gifted students, has been housed on MUW’s campus in Columbus since its founding in 1987. MUW’s proposal highlights its existing partnership with MSMS, possible renovations to residence halls and additional academic opportunities, whereas MSU presents plans for a new facility and expanded academic opportunities for students in collaboration with the Starkville Oktibbeha Consolidated School District.
MDE will review the proposals and determine the future location of MSMS.
Budget and Timeline
If selected, MSU plans to build the new MSMS facility behind Partnership Middle School alongside the site scheduled for Starkville High School.
MSU’s proposal sets a goal for a new facility to be completed by the start of the 2027-28 school year. The Starkville-Oktibbeha Consolidated School District has pledged $86 million toward the project, while MSU is contributing $5 million worth of land. The university is seeking an additional $85 million from the MDE to fund the move.
MUW’s proposal states that all additions and revisions to its existing partnership with MSMS could be implemented by the 2025-26 academic year, except for possible new facility construction outlined in the MUW Master Plan. The proposal also highlights the financial benefits of keeping MSMS in Columbus.
“The discounted funding that MUW provides to MSMS should be considered as a ‘funding source,'” MUW’s proposal states. “…the overall cost of hosting MSMS is discounted by over 90%.”
MUW’s proposal also compares MSMS’s current funding levels to similar schools in Louisiana, Arkansas and Alabama, noting that MSMS provides an average of $16,000 less per student.
Education
MSU’s proposal also highlights the benefits of a potential partnership between MSU and Starkville High School. The proposal states that MSMS students could take Career and Technical Education (CTE) courses at Starkville High, while Starkville High students could take advanced courses at MSMS. It also includes the potential for students at both institutions to access shared academic and extracurricular facilities, including a performing arts center, gymnasiums, practice fields, libraries, science labs, a band hall, faculty, technology labs, counseling, career services and wellness centers.
MSU’s proposal mentions the possibility of adding a 10th-grade class to MSMS. Currently, enrollment at MSMS is only offered to 11th and 12th-grade students. This ties in with MDE’s goal of increasing enrollment at MSMS, with the 10th-grade class potentially boosting enrollment from 240 students to 450.
“Adding the 10th grade enhances learning by allowing students to complete basic high school requirements in the 10th grade and providing more time in years 11 and 12 to take advanced courses, as well as experiential learning and expand applied research opportunities,” MSU’s proposal said.
MSU already collaborates with MSMS by offering research opportunities for students in university labs. The proposal states that relocating MSMS to Starkville would allow for a more seamless integration of these programs and access to MSU faculty. During the spring semester, MSU is hosting 26 students to give them experience in working in labs.
MSU’s proposal highlights that all of the efforts MSU would put into housing MSMS would come together to offer the most innovative secondary education in Mississippi.
“This partnership will focus on keeping our best and brightest in Mississippi,” the proposal said.
MUW’s proposal highlights its current academic support for MSMS students, emphasizing its dual-credit program, which allows students to take college-credit classes for free.
“Over the past ten years, MSMS students have earned over 16,500 credit hours with a tuition value of $5 million,” MUW’s proposal said.
MUW currently offers 41 dual-credit courses, allowing MSMS students to earn college credit while still in high school. Additionally, MUW’s proposal notes that MSMS students share performance and music spaces with MUW students, which the university argues has benefited both institutions.
MUW also proposed offering MSMS students a joint honors experience through the Ina E. Gordy Honors College on the MUW campus and allowing students to use its Artificial Intelligence Laboratory.
Infrastructure and Student Services
In MSU’s proposal, a residence hall for MSMS students would be behind Partnership Middle School and adjacent to MSMS classrooms and joint facilities with Starkville High. The residence hall promises a communal kitchen space, dining and community spaces for MSMS students to use.
“The residence hall will be completely separate from the MSU campus and residence halls by a residential neighborhood serving as a buffer,” the proposal said.
MSMS students would also receive MSU student ID cards with a clear MSMS distinction, which gives them access to the library, the Longest Student Health Center and various counseling services. The proposal also includes the possibility of having time exclusively for MSMS students in the Sanderson Center.
MSU also plans to expand its SMART bus routes to include MSMS students, contrasting its proposal with MUW’s current infrastructure.
“In its 35+ years, MSMS students have never had access to this type of public transportation nor the extensive sidewalk and bike path system,” MSU’s proposal said. “This alone is a key component of how being at MSU significantly improves the quality of life and experience for the MSMS students and families.”
MUW’s proposal argues that an additional on-campus shuttle system for MSMS is unnecessary, as no building on campus is more than a five-minute walk away.
MUW proposes either a complete renovation of an existing building or the construction of a new facility for MSMS students. Two vacant buildings on campus, Fant and Peyton Halls, could be renovated and dedicated to MSMS. The cost of renovating one of those buildings would be approximately $22 million, while a new facility that would house 400 students would be $35 million.
MUW confirmed that MSMS can continue operating on its campus during construction, ensuring no disruption to the operations.
