Calhoun County School District

The Calhoun County School District in Mississippi operates 5 schools, including 2 elementary schools, 2 high schools, and 1 alternative school. The district serves a high-need student population, with free/reduced lunch rates ranging from 63% to 88% across the schools.

While the district as a whole lags behind state averages on academic performance, a few schools stand out. Vardaman Attendance Center, an alternative school, has strong math proficiency and high performance in subjects like Algebra I, Biology, and U.S. History. Meanwhile, Bruce High School consistently ranks in the top half of Mississippi high schools and has solid graduation rates around 89%. Even Calhoun City Elementary School, which has lower overall rankings, demonstrates impressive academic performance given its very high free/reduced lunch rate of 88%.

However, the district faces significant challenges, including high chronic absenteeism rates around 24% across all schools, well above the state average. This, combined with the high poverty levels, likely contributes to the uneven academic performance seen across the schools. With the right strategies and resources, the district has opportunities to replicate the success of its standout schools and drive improvements in student outcomes.