High Schools in Itawamba County

Itawamba County, Mississippi, is served by a single public high school—Itawamba Agricultural High School—which enrolls 555 students in grades 9–12 in the rural community of Fulton and operates within the Itawamba County School District, ranked 43rd out of 134 districts in the state. As the only high school in the county, this school is both the standout and the sole representative of secondary education in the area, serving a student body where roughly 60% qualify for free or reduced lunch. The school maintains a favorable 13:1 student–teacher ratio, which supports individualized attention even though nearly a quarter of students are chronically absent.

In statewide rankings, Itawamba Agricultural High School has shown notable volatility, moving from 40th in 2023–2024 to 91st in 2024–2025, then climbing to 34th out of 224 schools (85th percentile, 4 stars) in 2025–2026. Academically, the school excels in STEM subjects, with 78.2% proficiency in Algebra I and 78.0% in Biology in 2025–2026—both well above district and state averages. English II proficiency, however, lags at 57.7%, just barely above the district's 56.6% figure, despite being above the state's 49.3%. The school's graduation rate of 88.2% trails both the district (90.1%) and state (89.2%), while chronic absenteeism of 24.0% exceeds the district rate of 18.9% and the state rate of 23.9%.

The most striking takeaway is the subject-area imbalance: the school is a clear leader in math and science but noticeably weaker in English, suggesting a need for targeted literacy support. The sharp drop in Algebra I proficiency from 92.5% in 2024–2025 to 78.2% in 2025–2026 also highlights year-over-year variability, though the school remains far above state averages. Chronic absenteeism stands out as a key concern, especially since it likely contributes to the below-average graduation rate. On the positive side, the school's agricultural identity and hands-on career and technical education offerings may explain its strong science performance, and with a low student–teacher ratio plus a recent 4-star state ranking, parents can expect a solid, mid-to-high-tier educational experience with room for growth in literacy and attendance.