Best Public Schools in Newhebron, MS

In the city of New Hebron, Mississippi, there is just one school—New Hebron School—serving kindergarten through 8th grade within the Lawrence County School District, a small, high-poverty K–8 school with 259 students and a favorable student-to-teacher ratio of 10.6. For parents, the most important takeaway is that this school has real bright spots, especially in the early and middle grades, but it also faces significant challenges as students move into 7th and 8th grade. Despite nearly 97% of students qualifying for free/reduced lunch, chronic absenteeism is just 12.4%—far below the district's 30.4% and the state's 23.9%—which shows that attendance and engagement are strong even with economic hardships. The school has also improved its state ranking from the 33rd percentile in 2023–2024 to the 48th percentile in 2025–2026, though it remains at a 2-star rating.

New Hebron truly shines in certain areas. In 2025–2026, 6th grade math proficiency reached 70.9%, beating both the district (45.7%) and the state (52.7%) by wide margins, and 6th grade ELA also topped the state at 58.3% versus 48.0%. The prior year, science results were outstanding, with 5th grade at 77.7% and 8th grade at 60.8%, both well above state averages. The school also outperforms its district in most elementary ELA grades, making it a relative bright spot within Lawrence County. Overall, school averages in ELA and math are close to district levels, and in the 2024–2025 school year, science proficiency (69.3%) actually exceeded both the district and state.

However, there is a clear pattern of decline in the upper grades. In 2025–2026, 8th grade math proficiency was just 9.4% compared to 51.4% statewide—a 42-point gap—and 7th grade ELA was only 23.1% versus 36.7% statewide. Science scores also dropped sharply from one year to the next, with 5th grade falling from 77.7% to 47.8% and 8th grade from 60.8% to 28.2%. Even with a low student-teacher ratio, these upper-grade struggles suggest the need for targeted instructional support in middle school. For parents, this means New Hebron offers a caring, attendance-rich environment and strong elementary-level teaching, but families should be aware that academic momentum tends to fade by 7th and 8th grade, especially in math and science.