Summary:
Sturgis, Mississippi, is served by a single public school — West Elementary School — which enrolls 190 students in grades PK through 5 and is part of the Starkville Oktibbeha Consolidated School District, a 4-star district ranked 41st out of 134 in the state. With 76.84% of students eligible for free or reduced-price lunch and a student-teacher ratio of 12.2, the school serves a predominantly economically disadvantaged population in a setting that allows for individualized attention. Over the past two years, West Elementary School climbed from the 38th percentile (242nd out of 390) to the 66th percentile (127th out of 377) in Mississippi's rankings, moving from a 2-star to a 3-star rating.
Academically, the school posted strong gains. Combined ELA and Math proficiency jumped from 47.8% in 2024–25 to 57.7% in 2025–26, with mathematics driving the improvement — overall Math proficiency rose from 45.8% to 59.5%. The 4th grade is a clear area of strength: 4th grade ELA reached 64.3% (state: 52.4%) and 4th grade Math reached 71.4% (state: 51.5%). The same cohort improved dramatically from 3rd to 4th grade, with math proficiency climbing from 44.5% to 71.4%. Science, however, slipped from a standout 75.0% in 2024–25 to 63.1% in 2025–26, falling below both district and state averages.
Areas to watch include 3rd grade ELA, which at 45.7% proficiency sits below the state average of 48.5% in a critical reading milestone year. Chronic absenteeism affects 24.0% of students — roughly one in four — matching district (25.6%) and state (23.9%) averages but remaining high in absolute terms. Despite these challenges, West Elementary School's gains are especially noteworthy given its high poverty rate, and the low student-teacher ratio may be a contributing factor. Continued focus on early literacy and science instruction will be key to sustaining the school's upward trajectory.
Thank you for your feedback!