High Schools in West Tallahatchie School District

The West Tallahatchie School District in rural Mississippi contains just one high school — West Tallahatchie High School in Webb, serving grades 7 through 12 with 297 students. This small, combined middle/high school is the district's only secondary campus, so nearly all academic results reported at the district level for tested grades are identical to the school's own numbers. The school serves a deeply economically disadvantaged population, with 98.99% of students eligible for free or reduced-price lunch, and it has a relatively favorable student-teacher ratio of 13.4:1.

West Tallahatchie High School has seen its state ranking decline over three years, falling from the 33rd percentile (2 stars) in 2023–2024 to the 17th percentile (1 star) in 2025–2026. Graduation stands at 80.0% versus the 89.2% state average, and chronic absenteeism is a serious concern at 41.5% compared to 23.9% statewide. Academically, the standout bright spot is 7th-grade math, where 61.5% of students are proficient, above the state average of 57.7%. However, most other subjects trail the state. In 8th grade, science proficiency is just 25.6% versus 57.8% statewide, and math is 25.6% versus 51.4%. English Language Arts is a major weakness, with only 15.3% of 7th graders and 21.5% of 8th graders proficient, far below state averages. End-of-course exams are mixed: U.S. History (64.9%) is close to the state average, while Algebra I (50.0%), Biology (46.2%), and English II (31.3%) all trail by double digits.

One of the most notable findings is the volatility within this small school. Seventh-grade math jumped from 24.5% proficiency in 2024–2025 to 61.5% in 2025–2026 — a 37-point swing that shows how much a single cohort can move the numbers. There is also a stark 46.2-point gap between 7th-grade math (61.5%) and 7th-grade ELA (15.3%) in the same year, suggesting uneven instructional outcomes. Despite low proficiency rates, 4 in 5 students graduate, meaning many students earn diplomas without demonstrating proficiency in key subjects. With high absenteeism and near-universal poverty, West Tallahatchie faces substantial challenges, but the math performance offers a potential foundation to build on.