Summary:
The city of De Kalb, Mississippi is home to 3 schools - 2 middle schools and 1 high school - all part of the Kemper County School District. Unfortunately, the academic performance of these schools is consistently below the state average, with no clear standout institutions in the area.
The Kemper County High School had a 89.4% four-year graduation rate in 2022-2023, slightly below the state average. All three schools struggled with high chronic absenteeism rates of 23.9%, significantly higher than the state norm. On standardized tests, the schools scored poorly, with proficiency rates ranging from just 9.7% to 59.7% across end-of-course exams and MAAP assessments.
Notably, all three schools had 100% of their students qualifying for free or reduced-price lunch, indicating a high level of economic disadvantage in the district. While the student-teacher ratios were relatively low, ranging from 8.5 to 11, the consistently poor academic outcomes suggest systemic issues that go beyond just resource allocation. Addressing the underlying challenges, such as poverty and lack of improvement over time, will be crucial for enhancing educational opportunities for students in the De Kalb area.
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