Summary:
Smith County School District contains one high school, Raleigh High School, serving grades 7–12 in Raleigh, Mississippi, with 486 students and a high rate of economic disadvantage. Since this is the only high school in the district, the focus is entirely on Raleigh High School’s performance compared to state averages and its own recent trends.
Raleigh High School shines when it comes to keeping students on track: its 96.5% graduation rate exceeds both the district (85.2%) and the state (89.2%), a remarkable achievement given that over 72% of students qualify for free or reduced lunch. Science is another bright spot, with 8th grade science proficiency at 61.8% and Biology at 54.2% in 2025-2026. However, the school has experienced a sharp academic decline overall. State rankings fell from the 74th percentile (4 stars) in 2023-2024 to the 37th percentile (2 stars) in 2025-2026. Proficiency dropped in six of eight tested subjects, including major declines in 7th grade ELA (-15.5 points), Algebra I (-11.8), and English II (-11.6). ELA remains a significant weakness, with 7th grade (24%) and 8th grade (36.8%) both below state averages.
Chronic absenteeism is a likely concern, affecting 20.8% of students — well above the district rate of 14.7% — and may contribute to the recent test score slide. On a positive note, the student-teacher ratio of 12.6 is favorable, suggesting opportunities for individualized attention. The district itself ranks in the 53rd percentile (3 stars), but the high school’s 2-star rating indicates it is a weaker part of the overall district profile. For parents, the key takeaway is that Raleigh High School excels at graduating students and has some science strengths, but urgent attention is needed in English language arts, Algebra I, and chronic absenteeism to reverse the downward trend and restore its former higher statewide standing.
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