Summary:
The Jeff Davis County School District in rural Mississippi is served by two elementary schools — Carver Elementary and J. E. Johnson Elementary School — both serving grades PK–5 in the Prentiss and Bassfield area.
These two schools could not be more different. Carver Elementary is a clear standout. It ranks 162nd out of 377 elementary schools in Mississippi (57th percentile, 3 stars) and has improved every year since 2022–2023. Carver exceeds the district average in every subject and grade level tested, and it beats the state average in 4 of 7 categories — including 3rd grade ELA (57.7% vs. 48.5% statewide) and 4th grade Math (59.5% vs. 51.5% statewide). Its chronic absenteeism rate is just 15.6%, far better than the district's 24.2%. This is especially impressive given that 98.8% of its students qualify for free/reduced lunch.
J. E. Johnson Elementary School struggles by comparison. It ranks 298th out of 377 schools (21st percentile, 1 star) and trails both the district and state averages in nearly every subject. Its weakest areas are 4th grade Math (29.1% proficient) and 4th grade ELA (34.5% proficient). Chronic absenteeism is 22.5%, and while that's better than the district average it's still well above Carver's rate. There are some signs of improvement — 4th grade ELA jumped +16.7 points and 3rd grade Math +17.2 from the prior year — but performance remains inconsistent. Both schools have similar student-teacher ratios (about 14:1), so the gap likely comes down to school culture, leadership, and attendance. Both schools also share a common bright spot: 5th grade Science is their strongest subject, with Carver at 74.3% and J. E. Johnson at 64.3%. Overall, the district's 2-star rating masks a major divide: Carver is a rising 3-star school, while J. E. Johnson is stuck in the bottom quarter of the state.
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