Best Public Schools in Bassfield, MS

Bassfield, Mississippi, is served by two public schools within the Jeff Davis County School District—Carver Elementary (grades PK-5) and Jefferson Davis County High School (grades 9-12)—with nearly all of the 620 combined students qualifying for free or reduced lunch. Both schools serve a highly economically disadvantaged population, with Carver Elementary at 98.81% and Jefferson Davis County High School at 99.18% free/reduced lunch. The district overall ranks 87 out of 134 districts in Mississippi, placing it at the 35th percentile with a 2-star rating.

Carver Elementary is the clear standout. It has climbed from the 46th to the 57th percentile over recent years and now holds a 3-star rating. The school outperforms the state in 3rd grade ELA (57.7% vs. 48.5%), 3rd grade math (55.5% vs. 48.8%), 4th grade math (59.5% vs. 51.5%), and 5th grade science (74.3% vs. 71.5%). Chronic absenteeism is just 15.6%, far better than the district rate of 24.2%. By contrast, Jefferson Davis County High School has declined from the 30th percentile to the 13th percentile and now holds a 1-star rating. All End-of-Course proficiency rates are well below state averages, with Algebra I at 41.8% vs. 66.0% statewide, Biology at 36.5% vs. 63.1%, and English II at 39.0% vs. 49.3%. Chronic absenteeism at the high school is a severe 32.5%.

The stark contrast between these two schools shows that poverty alone does not explain performance differences. Carver Elementary's strong early-grade results fade by 5th grade, with ELA dropping to 42.8% and math to 37.1%, suggesting upper elementary is a critical intervention point. Bassfield has no middle school, so students face a major transition directly into high school. Despite low test scores, Jefferson Davis County High School posts a 90.2% graduation rate, slightly above the state's 89.2%, though this raises questions about college and career readiness given weak EOC results. STEM subjects—especially Biology and Algebra I—represent the biggest academic barriers, and the high school's attendance crisis likely cannot be separated from its academic struggles.