Baldwyn School District

The Baldwyn School District in Mississippi serves 739 students across two schools: Baldwyn High School, which covers grades 5–12 with 460 students, and Baldwyn Elementary, which covers grades K–4 with 279 students. The district ranks 64th out of 134 Mississippi districts with a 3-star rating, but that middling average hides a dramatic split between its two schools: the high school is one of the top-performing schools in the state, while the elementary school is in the bottom fifth.

Baldwyn High School is the clear standout, jumping from the 42nd percentile in 2024–2025 to the 84th percentile in 2025–2026 with a 4-star rating. Its end-of-course exams are excellent: Biology proficiency reached 81.8% (vs. 63.1% statewide), Algebra I hit 75% (vs. 66%), and English II reached 57.4% (vs. 49.3%). By contrast, Baldwyn Elementary ranks 308 out of 377 elementary schools — the 18th percentile with just 1 star — and has been declining for three straight years. Every subject at the elementary school trails the state, with the most alarming result in 3rd grade math: only 25.5% proficient compared to 48.8% statewide.

Parents should note a few important caveats. Despite the high school's strong test scores, its graduation rate is just 76.5% vs. 89.2% statewide — more than one in five students doesn't graduate on time. The elementary school also saw 3rd grade math proficiency nearly cut in half from 50% to 25.5% in one year. Both schools serve high-poverty populations (70–77% free/reduced lunch), yet chronic absenteeism is below the state average at both, and student-teacher ratios are reasonable (11.2 at the high school, 14.6 at the elementary). This suggests the elementary school's struggles are instructional rather than attendance-related, and the district should focus on early literacy and math while sustaining the high school's momentum.