Best Public Schools in Zip Code 39705

The 39705 zip code area in Mississippi is home to two schools - Columbus Middle School and Cook Elementary School, both part of the Columbus Municipal School District. The district is ranked 113 out of 130 in the state and has a 1-star rating from SchoolDigger, indicating significant challenges in providing quality education to its students.

Neither Columbus Middle School nor Cook Elementary School stand out as high-performing institutions. Both schools serve a predominantly African American student population, with over 86% of students identifying as such. Test scores at both schools are significantly lower than the state averages, particularly in English Language Arts and Mathematics. For instance, at Columbus Middle School, English Language Arts proficiency rates range from 19.8% to 20% across grades 6-8, well below the state average of 39.7% to 42%. Similarly, Mathematics proficiency rates at the school range from 26.3% to 28.1%, compared to the state average of 51.8% to 57.2%. The situation is similar at Cook Elementary School, where test scores in both subjects lag behind state benchmarks.

Both schools also face challenges related to high poverty levels, with 100% of their students qualifying for free or reduced-price lunch. The spending per student at Columbus Middle School ($8,593) and Cook Elementary School ($9,206) is relatively low compared to the state average, which may contribute to the schools' struggles to improve student outcomes. Despite the low student-teacher ratios, with 13.3 students per teacher at Columbus Middle School and 11.4 students per teacher at Cook Elementary School, the academic performance of these schools remains a concern, suggesting that additional resources and targeted interventions may be necessary to address the underlying issues and provide a better education for the students in this area.