Summary:
The 38860 zip code area is home to 3 schools - Okolona Elementary School, Okolona High School, and Okolona Middle School - all part of the Okolona Separate School District. These schools serve a predominantly African American student population, with extremely high rates of economic disadvantage as evidenced by 100% free/reduced lunch eligibility.
Of the three schools, Okolona High School appears to be the highest performer, with the best statewide rankings and test scores compared to the elementary and middle schools. For example, in 2023-2024, 72.2% of Okolona High School students were proficient or better in Algebra I, exceeding the state average of 67.4%. In contrast, Okolona Elementary School has struggled with low test scores, ranking in the bottom 20% of Mississippi elementary schools in recent years, though it has shown some improvement with 5th grade math proficiency increasing from 21.1% in 2022-2023 to 45.7% in 2023-2024.
Despite the challenges, the schools in the 38860 zip code area benefit from relatively low student-teacher ratios, ranging from 8.7 students per teacher at Okolona Middle School to 12 students per teacher at Okolona Elementary School. However, the academic results do not seem to reflect this advantage, suggesting that factors beyond just class size may be at play in this community's educational landscape.
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