Elementary Schools in Tupelo Public School District

The Tupelo Public School District in Mississippi includes 8 elementary schools serving approximately 3,221 students across grades K-5, all located in a high-poverty area where free/reduced lunch rates range from 66% to 76%. The district overall is rated 3 stars and ranks 59th out of 134 Mississippi districts. Because four of the eight schools serve only K-2 students, current state accountability data is only available for the four schools serving grades 3-5: Lawhon Elementary School, Lawndale Elementary School, Rankin Elementary School, and Pierce Street Elementary School.

Among the tested schools, Rankin Elementary School is the clear standout, ranking 171st out of 377 Mississippi schools with the highest overall proficiency average in the district at 52.0%. Rankin also has the lowest chronic absenteeism rate at 15.2% and the district's best 5th-grade science scores at 81.1%, despite serving a 71.7% free/reduced lunch population. Lawndale Elementary School is the biggest concern, falling from the district's top performer in 2024-2025 (59.5% proficiency) to its lowest in 2025-2026 (46.0% proficiency), with dramatic drops in both math and ELA. Lawhon Elementary School, the largest school in the district at 575 students, has been the most stable, hovering around the 49th percentile for three years, but has the highest chronic absenteeism rate at 28.5%.

District-wide, science is a clear strength, with tested schools averaging 73.7% proficiency in 5th-grade science, above the state rate of 71.5%. Math is the biggest challenge, especially 3rd-grade math, where the tested schools average just 39.8% proficiency compared to 48.8% statewide. Chronic absenteeism is below the district average at every school, but Lawhon Elementary School, Pierce Street Elementary School, and Thomas Street Elementary School exceed the state average of 23.9%. Parents should note that the K-2 schools, including Joyner Elementary School, Parkway Elementary School, Thomas Street Elementary School, and Carver Elementary School, cannot be compared on test scores since they do not serve tested grades, but they all serve similarly high-poverty populations with favorable student-teacher ratios between 11.2 and 14.3.