Summary:
Wayne County School District in rural Mississippi serves five elementary schools — Waynesboro Riverview School, Wayne Central School, Clara School, Buckatunna School, and Beat Four School — all serving grades PK-8, with enrollments between 416 and 491 and nearly identical poverty rates above 99% free/reduced lunch.
Clara School is the clear standout, ranking in the 69th percentile statewide and outperforming every peer in English (53.2% proficient), math (49.1%), and science (74.4%). It is the only school in the district above the state median. By contrast, Wayne Central School ranks in the 15th percentile with just 26.3% ELA and 25.4% math proficiency — a 27-point gap in reading and 24-point gap in math compared to Clara. Buckatunna School sits in the middle (38th percentile), while Beat Four School (30th) outranks Waynesboro Riverview School (12th) despite similar demographics. Attendance does not explain performance: Wayne Central has the lowest chronic absenteeism (9.2%) but the lowest test scores, while Beat Four has the highest absenteeism (19.5%) yet beats two other schools academically.
A district-wide weakness appears in middle school: Wayne Central’s 8th grade ELA is just 10% proficient, and Waynesboro Riverview’s 6th grade math drops to 11.5%. Even Clara sees a 7th grade ELA dip to 29.7%. Clara’s math average also slipped from 63.1% in 2024-25 to 49.1% in 2025-26, though it remains the district’s best. Bright spots outside Clara include Wayne Central’s 65% 5th grade science, Buckatunna’s 57.1% 7th grade math, and Beat Four’s strong early grades (52.3% 3rd ELA, 60.7% 4th ELA) that fade by middle school. Overall, Wayne County offers one exceptional school, several mid-tier options with targeted strengths, and a consistent challenge in upper grades.
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