Summary:
The 38658 zip code area is home to a single standout public elementary school, Pope Elementary School, which serves grades PK-8 and is part of the South Panola School District. Despite serving a predominantly low-income student population, with 99.44% of students qualifying for free or reduced-price lunch, Pope Elementary consistently outperforms the district and state on standardized test scores, ranking in the top third of Mississippi elementary schools for the past three years.
Pope Elementary's academic excellence is particularly noteworthy, with 68.6% of 3rd graders proficient or better in English Language Arts, compared to 55.7% for the district and 57.7% for the state. The school's diverse student body is 81.54% White, 17.51% African American, and smaller percentages of other races. This high-performing school serves a student-teacher ratio of 13:1 and spends $8,199 per student, suggesting effective teaching practices, strong leadership, and a supportive school community that helps students succeed despite their economic circumstances.
The consistent improvement in Pope Elementary's statewide ranking, from the top 26% in 2021-2022 to the top 34% in 2023-2024, indicates the school is making continuous progress. However, the high percentage of low-income students raises questions about equity and access to high-quality education for students from disadvantaged backgrounds, an area that warrants further investigation to ensure all students receive the support they need to thrive.
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