Contrary to what you may have heard through the grapevine, Mississippi School for Mathematics and Science is not considering relocating from the campus of Mississippi University for Women to Mississippi State.
At least that’s what MSMS executive director Donald Cook and multiple other sources close to the school said Wednesday when we asked about it.
“I don’t know who starts these rumors, but that is strictly a rumor,” Cook said.
We’re relieved.
Since its first class in September of 1988, MSMS has been located on the campus of MUW. Its students, teachers, staff have not only established the residential high school for juniors and seniors as one of the top high schools in the nation, but they have also deeply ingrained themselves into the broader Columbus community.
MSMS in Columbus makes possible Tales from the Crypt, 8th of May Emancipation Celebration and engaging summer camps for middle and high schoolers. The students often host tutoring sessions for other area schools too. MSMS teachers add an intellectual element to the city in the same way MUW does.
MSMS represents the state well and adds significantly to the cultural fabric of Columbus.
Few probably understand the value of the school better than Cook, who was a member of the school’s very first graduating class in 1990. Like so many MSMS students over the past years, Cook arrived on the MUW campus as a high school junior from a small town.
Not every high school junior or senior could manage the responsibility of living away from home at that age, and parents of MSMS students have put a tremendous amount of faith in MSMS and MUW for keeping their children safe for decades. It’s a decision no family takes lightly, and MUW is an ideal college host.
MUW’s enrollment this year is 2,339. Just 381 of those students live on campus. It’s a small, intimate population, and over the years, MUW’s staff and students have developed an almost familial interest in these high school students. It’s a safe place for young people, with fewer distractions and temptations than you would find on a larger campus.
It’s hard to imagine MSMS anywhere other than Columbus, where bonds have been formed over the years. MSMS is a big thing here. It would be a small fish in a big pond if it were located at MSU.
Rumors can be destructive, but sometimes they can also serve a good purpose. Maybe this rumor will be a reminder of the value of the school to this community and a prompt to local state lawmakers to ensure proper funding is in place for the school.
The Dispatch Editorial Board is made up of publisher Peter Imes, columnist Slim Smith, managing editor Zack Plair and senior newsroom staff.
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