RHCJC

Mississippi looks to reverse brain drain with jobs, education

Morgan Gill, JC Roberts and Sameen Chand • June 30, 2025

For Stephanie Rodriguez, Mississippi offers safety, affordability and a quieter lifestyle, but for Gunnar Hamm, it was a place he couldn’t wait to leave. Their stories reflect the growing divide in how young adults view life in the Magnolia State — and what’s driving many to look elsewhere for opportunity.

Faithful Farms offers rural, faith-based school alternative

Samuel Hughes, Cadence Renfro and Rochak Basnet • June 16, 2025

A one-room schoolhouse opening this August is offering a faith-based, agriculture-centered alternative to public education — and positioning itself for Mississippi’s evolving school choice landscape.

Perry County Schools face budget struggles amid enrollment drop

Morgan Gill, Kennedi Drake, Stephani Perez Munoz, Sonya Woods, Colbey Penton, Srividya Karuturi, Nischit Sharma and Pragesh Adhikari • March 3, 2025

For 16 years, Perry County Schools have been underfunded under the Mississippi Adequate Education Program, the state's previous funding formula. During that time, the district navigated a cumulative funding loss of $8,747,681.

Lumberton students create mural to honor late teacher, strengthen community art efforts

Morgan Gill, Miracle Jennnings, Mallory Strickland, Srividya Karuturi, Nischit Sharma, Javion Henry and Evan Baronich • February 17, 2025

In the heart of Lumberton High School, students have turned grief into art. A group of students, led by art teacher Christopher Holzinger, have spent the past six months painting a mural to honor Susan Copeland, a beloved science teacher who died in a two-vehicle crash on Jan. 31, 2024.

Rural Mississippi schools fight to attract and keep teachers amid shortages

Morgan Gill and Evan Baronich • February 3, 2025

Mississippi’s education system faces a critical teacher shortage, particularly in rural areas like Greene County, where school leaders struggle to recruit and retain experienced educators.