Best High Schools in Carthage, MS

Carthage, Mississippi, is served by one high school—Leake Central High School—which enrolls 592 students in grades 9 through 12 within the Leake County School District. The school operates with a student-teacher ratio of 15.8 and serves a student body where 100% qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, reflecting the economic challenges facing local families. Since only one high school exists in the city, the most meaningful comparisons are to district and statewide averages.

Leake Central High School ranks in the bottom 10–15% of Mississippi high schools, earning a 1-star rating in both 2024–2025 and 2025–2026. Its graduation rate is 79.0%, far below the state's 89.2%, and chronic absenteeism affects 35.7% of students—roughly 50% higher than the district (23.8%) and state (23.9%) rates. On MAAP end-of-course tests, the school trails state averages in every subject. In 2025–2026, Algebra I proficiency was 37.5% versus 66.0% statewide, English II 38.2% versus 49.3%, and Biology 29.2% versus 63.1%. The Biology gap of nearly 34 points shows the scale of the challenge. However, there are positive signs: Biology proficiency jumped from 17.3% to 29.2% and English II improved from 31.1% to 38.2% year over year, while Algebra I fell 7.5 points.

For parents, this is a high-poverty school facing significant academic hurdles. The 100% economic disadvantage rate, combined with high absenteeism, creates compounding barriers to learning. Still, the improvements in Biology and English II show that targeted efforts can produce progress. The Leake County School District, ranked 114 of 134 districts statewide, faces struggles that are mirrored at Leake Central High School. Key priorities should include reducing chronic absenteeism, strengthening Algebra I and Biology instruction, and lifting graduation rates toward the state average. Any meaningful improvement strategy must also address how poverty affects student readiness and engagement.