Summary:
The city of Monticello, Mississippi is home to 4 schools serving grades K-12, all part of the Lawrence County School District. The data reveals significant differences in academic performance across the schools, with Topeka Tilton Attendance Center and Rod Paige Middle School consistently outperforming the district and state averages, while Monticello Elementary and Lawrence County High School lag behind.
Topeka Tilton Attendance Center stands out as the highest-performing school, with exceptional test scores across multiple grade levels and subjects. For example, in 2023-2024, 71.4% of 3rd graders were proficient or better in English Language Arts, compared to the district average of 51.6% and the state average of 57.7%. This majority-white school also has a relatively low percentage of free/reduced lunch recipients, suggesting potential equity issues in the district.
The consistently high free/reduced lunch rates, ranging from 98.84% to 99.44% across all schools, indicate significant economic challenges facing the district and its students. Despite the relatively low student-teacher ratios, which can be beneficial for learning, the varying academic outcomes suggest that class size may not be the only factor influencing student success. Further analysis would be needed to fully understand the drivers of the observed performance differences and identify strategies to support the academic growth of all students in the Lawrence County School District.
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