High Schools in Attala County School District

The Attala County School District in Mississippi is home to two high schools: Ethel Attendance Center and McAdams Attendance Center. While both schools serve students in grades 9-12, Ethel Attendance Center stands out as the higher-performing institution, consistently ranking among the top high schools in the state.

Ethel Attendance Center boasts a strong academic record, with a higher percentage of students proficient or better in most MAAP subject areas compared to the district and state averages. The school's student-teacher ratio of 12.4 is also higher than McAdams Attendance Center's 8.2, suggesting a more efficient use of resources. However, the racial composition of the two schools is strikingly different, with Ethel Attendance Center having a majority white student population (73.52%) and McAdams Attendance Center being predominantly African American (96.13%), raising concerns about equity and access to educational opportunities within the district.

Despite the higher spending per student at McAdams Attendance Center ($14,949 compared to $12,230 at Ethel Attendance Center), the school's academic performance lags behind its counterpart. This discrepancy highlights the need for a deeper examination of the factors contributing to the performance gap, such as teacher quality, curriculum, school leadership, and community engagement. Addressing these underlying issues could help drive sustainable progress and ensure that all students in the Attala County School District have access to a high-quality education.