Okolona High School

Q: Is Okolona High School a good school?

Okolona High School ranks 127 th of 228 Mississippi high schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 2 stars out of 5.

Summary:

Okolona High School is a public high school serving 158 students in grades 9-12 in Okolona, Mississippi, a small town in the northeastern part of the state. The school faces a unique set of challenges, including a student population that is 95% African American, high poverty levels with 100% of students qualifying for free or reduced-price lunch, and mixed academic performance compared to the state and nearby schools.

Okolona High School's test scores on state assessments have been inconsistent, with the school outperforming the state in some subject areas like Algebra I and Biology, but underperforming in others like English II and U.S. History. The school's statewide ranking has fluctuated over the years, generally falling in the bottom half of Mississippi high schools, suggesting the need for targeted interventions to improve student learning outcomes. Despite these academic challenges, Okolona High School has a relatively low student-teacher ratio and spends more per student ($14,897) compared to the nearby Amory School District, Chickasaw County School District, Tupelo Public School District, Nettleton School District, and Lee County School District, which range from $8,314 to $9,751 per student.

The high poverty levels and lack of diversity at Okolona High School, compared to the nearby Amory High School, Houston High School, Tupelo High School, Nettleton High School, and Shannon High School, suggest the school may face unique challenges that require tailored strategies to address the needs of its student population and improve overall academic performance.

Detail:

Public 9-12

404 Howard Gunn Street
Okolona, MS 38860

(662) 447-2362

District: Okolona Separate School District

SchoolDigger Rank:
127^th of 228 Mississippi High Schools

Per Pupil Expenditures: $18,430

Feeder schools for Okolona High School:

Elementary:	Okolona Elementary School
Middle:	Okolona Middle School

Student/teacher ratio: 10.5

Number of students: 158

Racial breakdown:

African American:

95.6%

White:

3.2%

Two or more races:

1.3%

Free/discounted lunch recipients: 100%

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Performance Trends

Compare Details Okolona High School is not ranked due for the most recent year due to insufficient test score data. (See more...)

Compare Details In 2017 the calculated Average Standard Score was 26.27. (See more...)

Compare Details Okolona High School ranks worse than 55.7% of high schools in Mississippi. (See more...)

Compare Details In 2024 the calculated Average Standard Score was 48.69. (See more...)

The four-year cohort graduation rate measures the percentage of students at Okolona High School who earn a standard high school diploma within four years of starting ninth grade.

Chronic absenteeism in a school refers to a situation where students repeatedly miss school, with the threshold often defined as missing 10% or more of school days for any reason, excused or unexcused.

Student Body

Compare Details Racial makeup is: African American (95.6%), White (3.2%), two or more races (1.3%). (See more...)

Compare Details 100% of students are receiving a free or discounted lunch. (See more...)

Teachers

Compare Details The student/teacher ratio at Okolona High School is 10.5. (See more...)

Compare Okolona High School employs 14.9 full-time teachers.

Finance

Compare Details The average total spent per student at Okolona High School is $18,430.

Schooldigger Rankings:

Okolona High School was not ranked this year due to insufficient test score data.

SchoolDigger ranks Okolona High School 127^th of 228 Mississippi public high schools. (See Okolona High School in the ranking list.)

Okolona Separate School District:

SchoolDigger ranks Okolona Separate School District 93^rd of 130 Mississippi school districts. (See district ranking list.)

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Rank History for Okolona High School

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Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Middle Schools	MS State Percentile
2008	24.73	194^th	244	20.5%
2009	5.56	241^st	247	2.4%
2010	9.73	241^st	255	5.5%
2011	8.80	258^th	264	2.3%
2012	11.58	253^rd	270	6.3%
2013	27.75	205^th	269	23.8%
2014	23.24	208^th	264	21.2%
2015	31.07	177^th	266	33.5%
2016	33.98	173^rd	260	33.5%
2017	26.27	197^th	272	27.6%

See the entire list of Mississippi High School Rankings!

Data source: test scores: Mississippi Department of Education, rankings: SchoolDigger.com

Rank History for Okolona High School

Compare

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	MS State Percentile
2004	63.65	82^nd	232	64.7%
2005	52.50	125^th	232	46.1%
2006	45.25	144^th	232	37.9%
2007	21.04	202^nd	232	12.9%
2008	13.94	210^th	235	10.6%
2009	23.30	192^nd	235	18.3%
2010	0.27	235^th	235	0.0%
2011	10.27	233^rd	244	4.5%
2012	2.61	240^th	241	0.4%
2013	12.86	217^th	238	8.8%
2014	9.86	225^th	236	4.7%
2015	21.48	175^th	226	22.6%
2016	26.03	171^st	231	26.0%
2017	29.45	165^th	237	30.4%
2018	29.31	164^th	233	29.6%
2019	42.92	131^st	233	43.8%
2021	36.75	143^rd	231	38.1%
2022	53.41	114^th	228	50.0%
2023	40.06	142^nd	226	37.2%
2024	48.69	127^th	228	44.3%

See the entire list of Mississippi High School Rankings!

Data source: test scores: Mississippi Department of Education, rankings: SchoolDigger.com

Data source: Mississippi Department of Education

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Enrollment information for Okolona High School

Compare

Year	White	African American	Asian	Hispanic	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Total
1990	96	198	0	0	n/a	n/a	294
1991	111	228	0	0	n/a	n/a	339
1992	109	206	0	0	n/a	n/a	315
1993	177	386	0	0	n/a	n/a	563
1994	197	390	0	0	n/a	n/a	587
1995	111	410	1	1	n/a	n/a	523
1996	111	410	1	1	n/a	n/a	523
1997	83	404	1	1	n/a	n/a	489
1998	70	384	2	1	n/a	n/a	457
1999	43	357	0	1	n/a	n/a	401
2000	27	351	0	0	n/a	n/a	378
2001	20	336	0	0	n/a	n/a	356
2002	9	341	0	0	n/a	n/a	350
2003	9	341	0	0	n/a	n/a	350
2004	6	371	4	1	n/a	n/a	382
2005	13	362	3	1	n/a	n/a	379
2006	6	355	3	1	n/a	n/a	365
2007	12	347	1	0	n/a	n/a	360
2008	11	310	0	0	n/a	n/a	321
2009	12	305	0	0	0	0	317
2010	5	293	0	0	0	0	298
2011	3	308	0	0	0	0	311
2012	5	288	0	0	0	0	293
2013	3	288	0	0	0	0	291
2014	11	398	1	5	0	0	415
2015	9	411	0	5	0	0	425
2016	4	408	0	4	0	1	417
2017	5	373	0	3	0	2	383
2018	4	314	0	3	0	1	322
2019	1	175	0	2	0	2	180
2020	1	173	0	1	0	1	176
2021	2	164	0	0	0	0	166
2022	4	152	0	0	0	1	157
2023	5	151	0	0	0	2	158

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Enrollment/Ethnicity

For more information about how the Department of Education defines ethnicity, see Defining Race and Ethnicity Data, National Center for Education Statistics

Students eligible for free or discounted lunch at Okolona High School

Compare

Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
1990	294	14.3	20.5	n/a
1991	339	17.5	19.3	n/a
1992	315	17.9	17.5	62.9
1993	563	26.7	21.1	59
1994	587	25.6	22.9	65.9
1995	523	26.7	19.6	70.9
1996	523	26.7	19.6	70.9
1997	489	28.2	17.3	74.6
1998	457	28.5	16.0	79.4
1999	401	24.7	16.2	94.8
2000	378	25.7	14.7	98.9
2001	356	24.0	14.8	95.8
2002	350	25.2	13.9	98
2003	350	25.2	13.9	98
2004	382	25.4	15.0	90.3
2005	379	23.2	16.3	93.1
2006	365	23.4	15.6	94.2
2007	360	39.2	9.2	91.7
2008	321	23.2	13.8	89.1
2009	317	22.6	14.0	78.5
2010	298	28.2	10.5	94.3
2011	311	24.1	12.9	95.8
2012	293	23.2	12.6	80.9
2013	291	24.1	12.0	99
2014	415	24.0	17.2	99.3
2015	425	28.0	15.1	99.3
2016	417	26.0	16.0	100
2017	383	25.6	14.9	100
2018	322	25.3	12.7	100
2019	180	14.2	12.5	100
2020	176	14.6	11.9	100
2021	166	14.3	11.5	100
2022	157	14.1	11.0	100
2023	158	14.9	10.5	100

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Students eligible for discounted/free lunch:

The National School Lunch Program (NSLP) provides low-cost or free meals to students in U.S. public and nonprofit private schools based on household income. Those with incomes below 130% of the poverty line receive free lunch, while those between 130% and 185% qualify for reduced-price lunch. The percentage of students receiving free or reduced-price lunch serves as a marker for poverty, as it reflects the socioeconomic status of families in a given school or district. A higher FRPL rate typically indicates a higher concentration of low-income families, suggesting that the school or district may face additional challenges in providing adequate resources and support for student success.

Student/Teacher Ratio Okolona High School

Compare

Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
1990	294	14.3	20.5	n/a
1991	339	17.5	19.3	n/a
1992	315	17.9	17.5	62.9
1993	563	26.7	21.1	59
1994	587	25.6	22.9	65.9
1995	523	26.7	19.6	70.9
1996	523	26.7	19.6	70.9
1997	489	28.2	17.3	74.6
1998	457	28.5	16.0	79.4
1999	401	24.7	16.2	94.8
2000	378	25.7	14.7	98.9
2001	356	24.0	14.8	95.8
2002	350	25.2	13.9	98
2003	350	25.2	13.9	98
2004	382	25.4	15.0	90.3
2005	379	23.2	16.3	93.1
2006	365	23.4	15.6	94.2
2007	360	39.2	9.2	91.7
2008	321	23.2	13.8	89.1
2009	317	22.6	14.0	78.5
2010	298	28.2	10.5	94.3
2011	311	24.1	12.9	95.8
2012	293	23.2	12.6	80.9
2013	291	24.1	12.0	99
2014	415	24.0	17.2	99.3
2015	425	28.0	15.1	99.3
2016	417	26.0	16.0	100
2017	383	25.6	14.9	100
2018	322	25.3	12.7	100
2019	180	14.2	12.5	100
2020	176	14.6	11.9	100
2021	166	14.3	11.5	100
2022	157	14.1	11.0	100
2023	158	14.9	10.5	100

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Student-Teacher Ratio

Student/teacher ratio is calculated by dividing the total number of students by the total number of full-time equivalent teachers. Please note that a smaller student/teacher ratio does not necessarily translate to smaller class size. In some instances, schools hire teachers part time, and some teachers are hired for specialized instruction with very small class sizes. These and other factors contribute to the student/teacher ratio. Note: For private schools, Student/teacher ratio may not include Pre-Kindergarten.

Finances

Per Pupil Expenditures for Okolona High School

Year	Total Expenditures Per Pupil
2017	$12,176
2018	$14,897
2019	$15,254
2020	$15,732
2021	$17,222
2022	$18,430

Data source: Mississippi Department of Education

Pre and Post Pandemic Data

Impact of COVID-19 on Okolona High School

The coronavirus has had a profound impact on education in America. Learning shifted online overnight, attendance numbers dwindled, and enrollment decreased. SchoolDigger.com is making it easier for you to better assess how COVID-19 has impacted your school. Through the collection of pre-pandemic (2019) and current data, SchoolDigger.com is sharing test scores, enrollment numbers and school demographics from schools across the country – and we make it easy to see how impacted schools compare locally and statewide.

Rankings

Rank Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)	Rank Post pandemic (2022-2023)	Change (%)
Ranks 131^st of 233 High schools	Ranks 142^nd of 226 High schools	6.6%

Test Scores

	% proficient Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)	% proficient Post pandemic (2022-2023)	Change (%)
End of Course Algebra I (Okolona High School)	32.5	61.5	29%
End of Course Algebra I (Okolona Separate School District)	32.5	61.5	29%
End of Course Algebra I (Mississippi)	49.3	65.8	16.5%
End of Course English II (Okolona High School)	33.4	24.1	9.3%
End of Course English II (Okolona Separate School District)	33.4	24.1	9.3%
End of Course English II (Mississippi)	43.9	50.1	6.2%
End of Course Biology (Okolona High School)	66.7	100	33.3%
End of Course Biology (Okolona Separate School District)	66.7	100	33.3%
End of Course Biology (Mississippi)	57.2	60.9	3.7%
End of Course U.S. History1 (Okolona High School)	40.5	56.5	16%
End of Course U.S. History1 (Okolona Separate School District)	40.5	56.5	16%
End of Course U.S. History1 (Mississippi)	55.5	71.4	15.9%

Student Body

	Number of students Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)	Number of students Post pandemic (2022-2023)	Change (%)
Total Students	180	158	12.2%
African American	175	151	13.7%
American Indian	0	0
Asian	0	0
Hispanic	2	0	100%
Pacific Islander	0	0
White	1	5	400%
Two or More Races	2	2
% Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients	100%	100%

Schools Near Okolona High School

Choose columns to see: Summary School Students/Teachers Ranking Test Scores Finance All

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2024)				Ranking (2023)				MAAP Algebra I (2024)	MAAP English II (2024)	MAAP Biology (2024)	MAAP U.S. History1 (2024)	Per Pupil Expenditures (2022)
Name	Type	Grades	Address	City	Zip	County	District	Is Charter	Is Magnet	Is Virtual	Is Title I	Phone	Enrollment	Full-time Teachers	Student/ Teacher Ratio	Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients	White	Black	Hispanic	Asian	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Average Standard Score (2024)	Statewide Rank (2024)	State Percentile (2024)	SchoolDigger Rating (2024)	Average Standard Score (2023)	Statewide Rank (2023)	State Percentile (2023)	Rank Change from Previous Year	MAAP Algebra I End of Course	MAAP English II End of Course	MAAP Biology End of Course	MAAP U.S. History1 End of Course	Total
Okolona High School	Public	9-12	404 Howard Gunn Street	Okolona	38860	Chickasaw County	Okolona Separate School District	No	No	No	Yes	(662) 447-2362	158	15	10.5	100.0%	5 (3.2%)	151 (95.6%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (1.3%)	48.7	127^th of 228 public high schools	44.3%		40.1	142^nd of 226 public high schools	37.2%	15	72.2	33.3	75.0	59.2	$18,430
Okolona Vocational Complex	Public	9-12	605 North Church St	Okolona	38860	Chickasaw County	Okolona Separate School District	No	No	No	No	(662) 447-3331	0	6	.0		0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()								(n/a)
Shannon High School	Public	9-12	218 Cherry St.	Shannon	38868	Lee County	Lee County School District	No	No	No	Yes	(662) 767-9566	525	45	11.5	100.0%	114 (21.7%)	384 (73.1%)	11 (2.1%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	16 (3.0%)	12.8	204^th of 228 public high schools	10.5%		7.7	219^th of 226 public high schools	3.1%	15	39.6	30.7	27.9	52.4	$12,907
Nettleton High School	Public	9-12	165 Mullen Avenue	Nettleton	38858	Itawamba County	Nettleton School District	No	No	No	No	(662) 963-2306	342	33	10.4	99.1%	222 (64.9%)	115 (33.6%)	4 (1.2%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.3%)	39.7	142^nd of 228 public high schools	37.7%		65.6	72^nd of 226 public high schools	68.1%	70	59.8	45.3	51.1	66.2	$11,974
Lee County Career & Technical School	Public	9-12	221 Honeycomb Way	Tupelo	38801	Lee County	Lee County School District	No	No	No	No	(662) 432-1090	0	8	.0		0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()								(n/a)
Tupelo High School	Public	9-12	4125 Golden Wave Drive	Tupelo	38801	Lee County	Tupelo Public School District	No	No	No	No	(662) 841-8970	2,001	131	15.2	99.9%	668 (33.4%)	1,038 (51.9%)	165 (8.2%)	51 (2.5%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.0%)	78 (3.9%)	51.9	116^th of 228 public high schools	49.1%		63.1	81^st of 226 public high schools	64.2%	35	58.1	50.0	59.3	72.2	$12,028
Tupelo Lee County Vocational Technical School	Public	9-12	4125 Golden Wave Drive	Tupelo	38801	Lee County	Tupelo Public School District	No	No	No	No	(662) 841-8990	0	15	.0		0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()								(n/a)
Amory High School	Public	9-12	1006 Sam Haskell Circle	Amory	38821	Monroe County	Amory School District	No	No	No	No	(662) 256-5753	456	26	17.7	99.3%	266 (58.3%)	170 (37.3%)	13 (2.9%)	2 (0.4%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	5 (1.1%)	59.4	98^th of 228 public high schools	57.0%		56.6	101^st of 226 public high schools	55.3%	3	66.7	43.0	59.8	86.9	$15,877
Amory Career Technical Center	Public	9-12	1006 Sam Haskell Circle	Amory	38821	Monroe County	Amory School District	No	No	No	No	(662) 256-7601	0	7	.0		0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()								(n/a)
Houston High School	Public	9-12	634 Starkville Road	Houston	38851	Chickasaw County	Chickasaw County School District	No	No	No	Yes	(662) 456-3320	499	34	14.8	99.4%	229 (45.9%)	216 (43.3%)	45 (9.0%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	8 (1.6%)	59.8	96^th of 228 public high schools	57.9%		60.5	91^st of 226 public high schools	59.7%	5	81.2	53.5	54.7	69.5	$12,610

Frequently Asked Questions about Okolona High School

What is the racial makeup of Okolona High School?

Students at Okolona High School are 96% African American, 3% White, 1% Two or more races.

What schools feed into Okolona High School?

Okolona High School is fed by the following schools:

Elementary : Okolona Elementary School
Middle : Okolona Middle School

What district is Okolona High School in?

Okolona Separate School District

How many students attend Okolona High School?

In the 2022-23 school year, 158 students attended Okolona High School.

Is Okolona High School a good school?

Okolona High School ranks 127^th of 228 Mississippi high schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 2 stars out of 5.

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SchoolDigger data sources: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education, the U.S. Census Bureau and the Mississippi Department of Education.

IMPORTANT DISCLAIMERS: Not all boundaries are included. We make every effort to ensure that boundaries are up-to-date. But it's important to note that these are approximations and are for general informational purposes only. To verify legal descriptions of boundaries or school locations, contact your local tax assessor's office and/or school district.