Casper E Hall

Casper E Hall is a small elementary school in Duncan, MS, serving 194 students in grades PK‑6 as part of the North Bolivar Consolidated school district.

Casper E Hall has quietly become one of the most improved schools in the region. Just a few years ago, it ranked in the bottom 3% of Mississippi elementary schools; today it sits at the 53rd percentile with a 3‑star rating, the highest in its district. That turnaround is remarkable given that nearly all students come from low‑income households. One of the biggest reasons for the school's success is attendance: only 5.5% of students are chronically absent, compared with 18.7% across the district and 23.9% statewide. Nearby schools like Booker T. Washington International Studies Magnet School (40.7%), George H. Oliver Visual/Performing Arts Magnet School (28.8%), and Lyon Elementary (16.7%) struggle far more with attendance. The school also keeps class sizes small with a 12.5:1 student‑teacher ratio, well below the 18–21 range seen at many Clarksdale schools.

Academically, Casper E Hall shines brightest in 5th grade, where 76.2% of students are proficient in English Language Arts and 85.7% in Science—both well above state averages and stronger than Hayes Cooper Center, the region's top‑performing school. However, performance is uneven: 3rd grade math (25%) and 4th grade ELA (30%) lag significantly, and math scores across most grades trail I. T. Montgomery Elementary School, its sister school in the same district. Class‑to‑class differences are also large—one cohort scored 95% in 4th grade math only to drop to 48% in 5th grade. Still, with attendance this strong and a clear upward trajectory, Casper E Hall is a school worth watching, especially for families who value consistency and daily engagement over raw test scores.