Schools in Nettleton, MS

Nettleton, Mississippi is served by the Nettleton School District, which operates four schools spanning kindergarten through 12th grade and enrolling roughly 994 students, with more than 80% of students qualifying for free or reduced-price lunch—a high-poverty community where results vary widely across grade levels.

The clear standout is Nettleton Elementary School, which ranks in the 69th percentile of Mississippi elementary schools (3 stars) and has jumped 124 positions in recent years. Third and fourth grade ELA and math proficiency are well above state averages, and 5th grade science also exceeds the state mark. By contrast, Nettleton Junior High ranks in the 40th percentile (2 stars), with strong 6th and 7th grade math but a sharp collapse in 8th grade, where math and ELA proficiency fall 23.8 and 26.4 points below state averages. Nettleton High School ranks in the 44th percentile (2 stars) and posts a strong 92.5% graduation rate with standout Biology and U.S. History proficiency, but its 47.1% chronic absenteeism rate—double the state average—is the most concerning metric in the district. Nettleton Primary School has no test scores but boasts the district's lowest chronic absenteeism at 15.8%.

For parents, the picture is one of contrasts: strong early elementary instruction gives way to significant declines in upper-elementary and middle school math, while high school attendance problems threaten otherwise promising outcomes. The district's best strategies appear concentrated in grades 3 and 4, and replicating those practices in later grades, particularly 8th grade and English II, could help close the gaps. Still, Nettleton Elementary proves that high poverty does not preclude academic success, and the district's graduation rate exceeds the state average despite the challenges.