COLUMBUS, Miss. (WJTV) – The Mississippi State Board of Education (SBE) voted unanimously on March 20 to recommend to the Mississippi Legislature that it consider relocating the Mississippi School for Mathematics and Science (MSMS) to Mississippi State University (MSU) starting in the 2026-27 school year.

No changes to the location or operations of MSMS will occur without legislative action and appropriation of necessary funding.

The MSMS was established during the 1987 Legislative Session as a residential high school for academically gifted 11th and 12th grade students on the campus of the Mississippi University for Women (MUW). Since its inception, MSMS has served more than 3,000 graduates through its programming.

On February 7, the SBE invited the MUW and MSU to submit proposals that will increase enrollment opportunities and enhance educational programming for MSMS students. According to officials, the SBE selected these two universities because MSMS partners with both for dual enrollment and research opportunities.

After evaluating proposals from both universities and reviewing feedback, the SBE determined that MSU offers advantages for the future growth of 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.”