Tupelo High School

Q: Is Tupelo High School a good school?

Tupelo High School ranks 116 th of 228 Mississippi high schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 2 stars out of 5.

Summary:

Tupelo High School is a public high school in Tupelo, Mississippi, serving 2,001 students in grades 9-12. The school is part of the Tupelo Public School District, which is ranked 45 out of 130 districts in the state and has a 3-star rating.

Tupelo High School stands out for its diverse student population, with a higher percentage of African American (51.87%) and Hispanic (8.25%) students compared to nearby schools. The school's test scores, as measured by the MAAP exams, are generally higher than the state average across various subjects, but slightly lower than the Tupelo Public School District average. Interestingly, Tupelo High School has an exceptionally high percentage of students (99.85%) receiving free or reduced-price lunch, indicating a high level of economic disadvantage among the student population.

While Tupelo High School has a relatively low student-teacher ratio and spends more per student than some nearby schools, its statewide ranking has been declining in recent years, from 51 out of 226 Mississippi high schools in 2014-2015 to 116 out of 228 in the most recent 2023-2024 school year. This suggests that the school's performance may be declining relative to other high schools in the state. Compared to nearby schools like Pontotoc High School and Mooreville High School, Tupelo High School lags behind in test scores and statewide rankings, raising potential equity concerns that may need to be addressed.

Detail:

Public 9-12

4125 Golden Wave Drive
Tupelo, MS 38801

(662) 841-8970

District: Tupelo Public School District

SchoolDigger Rank:
116^th of 228 Mississippi High Schools

Per Pupil Expenditures: $12,028

Feeder schools for Tupelo High School:

Elementary:	Carver Elementary School
	Joyner Elementary School
	Lawhon Elementary School
	Lawndale Elementary School
	More...
	Parkway Elementary School
	Pierce Street Elementary School
	Rankin Elementary School
	Thomas Street Elementary School
Middle:	Milam Elementary School
	Tupelo Middle School

Student/teacher ratio: 15.2

Number of students: 2,001

Racial breakdown:

African American:

51.9%

White:

33.4%

Hispanic:

8.2%

Free/discounted lunch recipients: 99.9%

See top rated Mississippi high schools

Compare Tupelo High School to nearby high schools!

Performance Trends

Compare Details Tupelo High School ranks worse than 50.9% of high schools in Mississippi. (See more...)

Compare Details In 2024 the calculated Average Standard Score was 51.87. (See more...)

The four-year cohort graduation rate measures the percentage of students at Tupelo 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 (51.9%), White (33.4%), Hispanic (8.2%). (See more...)

Compare Details 99.9% of students are receiving a free or discounted lunch. (See more...)

Teachers

Compare Details The student/teacher ratio at Tupelo High School is 15.2. (See more...)

Compare Tupelo High School employs 131.1 full-time teachers.

Finance

Compare Details The average total spent per student at Tupelo High School is $12,028.

Schooldigger Rankings:

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

SchoolDigger ranks Tupelo High School 116^th of 228 Mississippi public high schools. (See Tupelo High School in the ranking list.)

Tupelo Public School District:

SchoolDigger ranks Tupelo Public School District 45^th of 130 Mississippi school districts. (See district ranking list.)

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Rank History for Tupelo High School

Compare

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	MS State Percentile
2004	57.93	106^th	232	54.3%
2005	67.01	67^th	232	71.1%
2006	62.16	93^rd	232	59.9%
2007	65.88	79^th	232	65.9%
2008	61.87	98^th	235	58.3%
2009	51.42	123^rd	235	47.7%
2010	36.05	165^th	235	29.8%
2011	33.03	182^nd	244	25.4%
2012	39.32	153^rd	241	36.5%
2013	75.93	44^th	238	81.5%
2014	57.22	95^th	236	59.7%
2015	67.80	51^st	226	77.4%
2016	62.32	85^th	231	63.2%
2017	53.25	103^rd	237	56.5%
2018	56.77	96^th	233	58.8%
2019	62.48	78^th	233	66.5%
2021	68.95	65^th	231	71.9%
2022	64.80	76^th	228	66.7%
2023	63.09	81^st	226	64.2%
2024	51.87	116^th	228	49.1%

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 Tupelo High School

Compare

Year	White	African American	Asian	Hispanic	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Total
1990	958	347	7	5	0	n/a	n/a	1317
1991	935	361	4	8	0	n/a	n/a	1308
1992	950	373	10	0	0	n/a	n/a	1333
1993	1306	553	14	1	0	n/a	n/a	1874
1994	1320	551	8	2	0	n/a	n/a	1881
1995	1324	592	14	6	0	n/a	n/a	1936
1996	1324	592	14	6	0	n/a	n/a	1936
1997	1337	633	15	9	1	n/a	n/a	1995
1998	1312	633	19	5	0	n/a	n/a	1969
1999	1302	622	19	8	1	n/a	n/a	1952
2000	1240	631	18	4	0	n/a	n/a	1893
2001	1240	642	19	9	0	n/a	n/a	1910
2002	1220	666	14	6	2	n/a	n/a	1908
2003	1220	666	14	6	2	n/a	n/a	1908
2004	1172	664	23	16	2	n/a	n/a	1877
2005	1137	675	27	18	1	n/a	n/a	1858
2006	1099	753	36	31	2	n/a	n/a	1921
2007	1119	784	41	36	1	n/a	n/a	1981
2008	1070	818	32	30	0	n/a	n/a	1950
2009	1007	914	38	39	0	0	0	1998
2010	949	952	35	39	0	0	0	1975
2011	972	1056	41	54	0	0	2	2125
2012	963	1074	50	51	1	0	3	2142
2013	957	1022	48	61	1	0	6	2095
2014	924	938	47	60	1	0	14	1984
2015	906	928	52	63	1	0	24	1974
2016	888	979	47	77	2	0	17	2010
2017	877	990	45	84	1	0	23	2020
2018	854	976	51	103	0	0	28	2012
2019	803	931	44	114	0	0	39	1931
2020	758	915	38	127	0	0	92	1930
2021	761	921	42	134	0	1	78	1937
2022	737	997	46	164	0	1	85	2030
2023	668	1038	51	165	0	1	78	2001

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 Tupelo High School

Compare

Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
1990	1317	63.3	20.8	n/a
1991	1308	63.7	20.5	n/a
1992	1333	64.0	20.8	27.8
1993	1874	89.0	21.1	27.3
1994	1881	90.8	20.7	28.5
1995	1936	102.2	18.9	31
1996	1936	102.2	18.9	31
1997	1995	99.3	20.1	31.8
1998	1969	103.8	19.0	32.6
1999	1952	103.1	18.9	37.9
2000	1893	102.2	18.5	38.9
2001	1910	105.8	18.1	42
2002	1908	112.1	17.0	44.2
2003	1908	112.1	17.0	44.2
2004	1877	109.1	17.2	31.3
2005	1858	102.0	18.2	32.5
2006	1921	103.1	18.6	36.5
2007	1981	103.8	19.1	37.9
2008	1950	106.2	18.4	41.1
2009	1998	111.5	17.9	47
2010	1975	96.9	20.3	49.2
2011	2125	109.6	19.3	50.7
2012	2142	112.1	19.1	50.8
2013	2095	117.0	17.9	50.2
2014	1984	116.2	17.0	49.5
2015	1974	117.0	16.8	48.4
2016	2010	115.0	17.4	49.8
2017	2020	107.6	18.7	51.2
2018	2012	105.4	19.0	50.7
2019	1931	106.8	18.0	46.6
2020	1930	108.8	17.7	49.5
2021	1937	112.0	17.2	99.8
2022	2030	116.2	17.4	99.9
2023	2001	131.1	15.2	99.9

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 Tupelo High School

Compare

Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
1990	1317	63.3	20.8	n/a
1991	1308	63.7	20.5	n/a
1992	1333	64.0	20.8	27.8
1993	1874	89.0	21.1	27.3
1994	1881	90.8	20.7	28.5
1995	1936	102.2	18.9	31
1996	1936	102.2	18.9	31
1997	1995	99.3	20.1	31.8
1998	1969	103.8	19.0	32.6
1999	1952	103.1	18.9	37.9
2000	1893	102.2	18.5	38.9
2001	1910	105.8	18.1	42
2002	1908	112.1	17.0	44.2
2003	1908	112.1	17.0	44.2
2004	1877	109.1	17.2	31.3
2005	1858	102.0	18.2	32.5
2006	1921	103.1	18.6	36.5
2007	1981	103.8	19.1	37.9
2008	1950	106.2	18.4	41.1
2009	1998	111.5	17.9	47
2010	1975	96.9	20.3	49.2
2011	2125	109.6	19.3	50.7
2012	2142	112.1	19.1	50.8
2013	2095	117.0	17.9	50.2
2014	1984	116.2	17.0	49.5
2015	1974	117.0	16.8	48.4
2016	2010	115.0	17.4	49.8
2017	2020	107.6	18.7	51.2
2018	2012	105.4	19.0	50.7
2019	1931	106.8	18.0	46.6
2020	1930	108.8	17.7	49.5
2021	1937	112.0	17.2	99.8
2022	2030	116.2	17.4	99.9
2023	2001	131.1	15.2	99.9

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 Tupelo High School

Year	Total Expenditures Per Pupil
2017	$8,894
2018	$9,160
2019	$9,324
2020	$10,275
2021	$9,643
2022	$12,028

Data source: Mississippi Department of Education

Pre and Post Pandemic Data

Impact of COVID-19 on Tupelo 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 78^th of 233 High schools	Ranks 81^st of 226 High schools	2.4%

Test Scores

	% proficient Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)	% proficient Post pandemic (2022-2023)	Change (%)
End of Course Algebra I (Tupelo High School)	39.4	66.2	26.8%
End of Course Algebra I (Tupelo Public School District)	54.9	73.3	18.4%
End of Course Algebra I (Mississippi)	49.3	65.8	16.5%
End of Course English II (Tupelo High School)	52.5	54	1.5%
End of Course English II (Tupelo Public School District)	52.5	54	1.5%
End of Course English II (Mississippi)	43.9	50.1	6.2%
End of Course Biology (Tupelo High School)	66	69.3	3.3%
End of Course Biology (Tupelo Public School District)	66	69.3	3.3%
End of Course Biology (Mississippi)	57.2	60.9	3.7%
End of Course U.S. History1 (Tupelo High School)	67	74.1	7.1%
End of Course U.S. History1 (Tupelo Public School District)	67	74.1	7.1%
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	1931	2001	3.6%
African American	931	1038	11.5%
American Indian	0	0
Asian	44	51	15.9%
Hispanic	114	165	44.7%
Pacific Islander	0	1
White	803	668	16.8%
Two or More Races	39	78	100%
% Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients	46.6%	99.9%	53.2%

Schools Near Tupelo 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
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)
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)
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
Mooreville High School	Public	9-12	115 Road 1429	Mooreville	38857	Lee County	Lee County School District	No	No	No	No	(662) 842-6859	469	33	14.0	99.4%	411 (87.6%)	25 (5.3%)	24 (5.1%)	2 (0.4%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	7 (1.5%)	58.6	99^th of 228 public high schools	56.6%		64.9	76^th of 226 public high schools	66.4%	23	78.7	55.5	52.7	71.0	$12,568
Saltillo High School	Public	9-12	146 Tiger Dr.	Saltillo	38866	Lee County	Lee County School District	No	No	No	No	(662) 869-5466	955	56	16.9	99.7%	737 (77.2%)	174 (18.2%)	11 (1.2%)	12 (1.3%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	21 (2.2%)	61.1	92^nd of 228 public high schools	59.6%		62.4	83^rd of 226 public high schools	63.3%	9	57.9	50.6	69.5	79.6	$9,801
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
Pontotoc High School	Public	9-12	123 North Main Street	Pontotoc	38863	Pontotoc County	Pontotoc City Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(662) 489-1275	659	46	14.4	99.5%	333 (50.5%)	187 (28.4%)	110 (16.7%)	5 (0.8%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	24 (3.6%)	54.1	108^th of 228 public high schools	52.6%		50.5	119^th of 226 public high schools	47.3%	11	64.7	49.1	65.4	66.4	$10,487
Pontotoc Ridge Career & Technical County	Public	9-12	354 Center Ridge Drive	Pontotoc	38863	Pontotoc County	Pontotoc County School District	No	No	No	No	(662) 489-1826	0	12	.0		0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()								(n/a)
Pontotoc County Alternative Program	Public	5-12	354 Center Ridge Drive	Pontotoc	38863	Pontotoc County	Pontotoc County School District	No	No	No	No	(662) 489-4812	0	0			0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()								(n/a)

Frequently Asked Questions about Tupelo High School

What is the racial makeup of Tupelo High School?

Students at Tupelo High School are 52% African American, 33% White, 8% Hispanic, 4% Two or more races, 3% Asian.

What district is Tupelo High School in?

Tupelo Public School District

What schools feed into Tupelo High School?

Tupelo High School is fed by the following schools:

Elementary : Carver Elementary School
Elementary : Joyner Elementary School
Elementary : Lawhon Elementary School
Elementary : Lawndale Elementary School
Elementary : Parkway Elementary School
Elementary : Pierce Street Elementary School
Elementary : Rankin Elementary School
Elementary : Thomas Street Elementary School
Middle : Milam Elementary School
Middle : Tupelo Middle School

How many students attend Tupelo High School?

In the 2022-23 school year, 2,001 students attended Tupelo High School.

Is Tupelo High School a good school?

Tupelo High School ranks 116^th of 228 Mississippi high schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 2 stars out of 5.

Rate Tupelo High School!

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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.