Summary:
The city of Drew, Mississippi, is served by just two schools — A.W. James Elementary (PK–5) and Drew Hunter Middle (6–8) — both part of the Sunflower County Consolidated School District, together educating roughly 301 students in a high-poverty community where 100% of students qualify for free/reduced lunch.
Drew Hunter Middle is the standout school in the city, posting remarkably low chronic absenteeism of just 7.3% — less than one-third of the state average of 23.9% — and outperforming the district in every tested subject. In 2025–2026, its 7th grade math proficiency reached 62.9%, above the state's 57.7%, while 8th grade science hit 61.5%, also topping the state's 57.8%. The school even matched the state on Algebra I with a 66.7% pass rate the prior year. A.W. James Elementary also has strengths, especially in early-grade math: 3rd grade math reached 55.9% and 4th grade math 52.9%, both above state averages. The school also made a dramatic 25-point leap in 3rd grade English Language Arts, climbing from 22.2% to 47% proficiency, bringing it close to the state average.
The clearest area for improvement across both schools is English Language Arts. Drew Hunter Middle's ELA proficiency ranges from roughly 20% to 29.6%, far below the state's 37–48% range, while A.W. James Elementary sits just below state averages in most ELA grades. Attendance, however, is a relative strength: A.W. James has an 18.1% chronic absenteeism rate, better than both the district average (24.4%) and state average (23.9%). One important community note is that Drew has no high school, meaning students must leave town for 9th grade. Also, with only 82 students at the middle school, small cohorts mean proficiency rates can swing dramatically from year to year. Still, the big picture is encouraging: a high-poverty community delivering genuine bright spots in math, science, and attendance, with literacy as the clearest opportunity for growth.
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