Summary:
The George County School District in Lucedale, MS is home to 6 elementary schools serving roughly 2,316 students in PK–6 (with LT Taylor Intermediate School serving grades 3–6 and LC Hatcher Elementary School serving PK–2), and the district ranks 27th out of 134 districts in Mississippi. Across the district, free/reduced lunch rates range from 56.5% to 74.7%, while chronic absenteeism runs between 23.6% and 32.0% — above the state's 23.9% average for most schools.
Two schools stand out for different reasons. Benndale Elementary School is the biggest success story, jumping from the 53rd to the 84th percentile in just two years despite a high 72.5% poverty rate; it leads the district in 5th-grade science at 94.1% and has the lowest student-teacher ratio at 9.7:1. Rocky Creek Elementary School is the model of consistency, holding steady at the 81st percentile for three straight years and posting the district's highest average ELA proficiency at 67.4%. Central Elementary School, the largest school with 660 students, shows excellent 4th-grade math (83.3%) and science (89.3%) but struggles in 6th-grade ELA at 46.4%. LT Taylor Intermediate School is the main concern, ranking at the 48th percentile with the district's highest poverty (74.7%) and chronic absenteeism (32.0%), yet its 6th-grade math (59.5%) offers a bright spot.
Science is a clear district strength — every tested school beat the state average, with the district at 82.8% versus 71.5% statewide. Poverty doesn't always predict performance: Benndale and Central perform well despite high poverty, while lower-poverty Agricola Elementary School (56.5% FRL) sits mid-pack but improved to the 74th percentile. Grade-level volatility is common, so single-year scores can be misleading. LC Hatcher Elementary School, serving only PK–2, has no test data yet, but its early-grade health will shape future outcomes across the district.
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