New Specialty School Proposed Alongside Starkville High School

Starkville MS, September 27, 2025

News Summary

The Mississippi School for Mathematics and Science will not be part of the new Starkville High School plans. Discussions are ongoing about building a new specialty school focusing on areas like engineering or cybersecurity at Mississippi State University. The new Starkville High School, with a budget of $5 to $10 million, aims for completion by 2027, while plans for a residential facility for the specialty school are still in consideration. The project also seeks funding approval to support construction initiatives.

Starkville, Mississippi – The Mississippi School for Mathematics and Science (MSMS) will not be included in the plans for the new Starkville High School (SHS), as District 43 Representative Rob Roberson confirmed ongoing discussions about constructing a new specialty school alongside the new SHS on the property of Mississippi State University (MSU).

While details remain fluid, possible specializations for the new school—such as engineering or cybersecurity—have been mentioned, although no final decisions have been made. Roberson suggested that there is a possibility for the new specialty school to serve as a residential facility, but specifics are still under consideration.

Sid Salter, vice president of strategic communications at MSU, has confirmed the exclusion of MSMS from the SHS construction plan but declined to elaborate on the role of the proposed specialty school.

A recent ceremony marked the signing of a memorandum of understanding for the new Starkville High School by SOCSD Superintendent Tony McGee and MSU President Mark Keenum, with attendance from local city and university leaders.

The new Starkville High School will be situated on the northern edge of the MSU campus, adjacent to Partnership Middle School. The project is estimated to cost between $5 million and $10 million. MSU had initially considered utilizing this same property for MSMS after receiving a request for proposals from the State Board of Education; however, legislative action for the school’s establishment did not progress this year.

MP Design Group, an architectural firm based in Biloxi, has been tasked with the preliminary designs for the new high school, with expectations for design phase completion within six to eight months. The goal is to have the facility ready to welcome students by 2027.

Superintendent McGee highlighted the importance of ensuring that the planning of programs and facilities within the new school caters to both male and female students. Additionally, MSU intends to contribute to the SHS initiative through property donations, along with the possibility of offering learning opportunities for students at Starkville High School. However, precise details on these contributions remain unconfirmed.

The SOCSD board has preliminarily approved borrowing up to $125 million in bonds to fund the construction of the new high school, which will increase the district’s borrowing capacity by approximately $39 million. The issuance of these bonds has been delayed until next year. McGee aims to minimize borrowing while ensuring that construction costs remain manageable for taxpayers.

Roberson is also working to pursue legislative funding for this educational initiative, though the specific amounts and proposed usage of the funding have yet to be determined.

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Additional Resources

• C Dispatch: MSMS No Longer Part of Starkville High School Plan
• Wikipedia: Starkville, Mississippi
• Starkville School District: Starkville Yellow Jackets Specialty Car Tag
• Google Search: Starkville High School
• Hail State: Athletic Information
• Encyclopedia Britannica: Specialty School
• C Dispatch: Starkville Counselor Helps Clients
• Google News: Mississippi Education News

Author: STAFF HERE STARKVILLE WRITER

The STARKVILLE STAFF WRITER represents the experienced team at HEREstarkville.com, your go-to source for actionable local news and information in Starkville, Oktibbeha County, and beyond. Specializing in "news you can use," we cover essential topics like product reviews for personal and business needs, local business directories, politics, real estate trends, neighborhood insights, and state news affecting the area—with deep expertise drawn from years of dedicated reporting and strong community input, including local press releases and business updates. We deliver top reporting on high-value events such as the Cotton District Arts Festival, Bulldog Bash, and Mississippi State University homecoming celebrations. Our coverage extends to key organizations like the Starkville Area Chamber of Commerce and the Mississippi State University Extension Service, plus leading businesses in education and agriculture that power the local economy such as Mississippi State University and Starkville Manufacturing. As part of the broader HERE network, we provide comprehensive, credible insights into Mississippi's dynamic landscape.