Isaiah T. Montgomery Elementary School

I. T. Montgomery Elementary is a small Pre-K through 6th grade school in Mound Bayou, MS, serving 185 students in the North Bolivar Consolidated School District, where nearly every student comes from a family that qualifies for free or reduced lunch. The school operates with a low student-to-teacher ratio of 12.7 to 1, which gives teachers a real opportunity to work with kids individually. Academically, the school ranks 222nd out of 377 Mississippi elementary schools for 2025–26, earning a 2-star rating — a meaningful climb from a 1-star rating and 339th place just a few years ago.

Science is where this school truly shines. In 2025–26, an impressive 90% of 5th graders scored proficient or advanced in science on the state MAAP assessment — well above the state average of 71.5% and higher than every nearby school in the region, including Hayes Cooper Center (72.7%) and D.M. Smith Elementary (70.7%). This isn't a one-year fluke; the school has topped state science averages for three straight years. Upper-grade math is also a bright spot, with 5th-grade math proficiency at 60% (state: 49.6%) and 6th-grade at 56.3% (state: 52.7%). In fact, the school's math average across grades 3–6 outpaces its same-district neighbor, Casper Hall, by a solid margin.

The main area needing attention is English Language Arts. Only 36.8% of students in grades 3–6 were proficient in ELA in 2025–26, below the district (45.9%) and the state (51.2%). The gap is most visible in 3rd grade, where 31.8% of students met the bar versus 48.5% statewide. On a positive note, chronic absenteeism has dropped sharply from 30.7% in 2021–22 to 16.1% in 2023–24 — better than the state average of 23.9%. With small class sizes, a clear upward trend in state rankings, and proven success in STEM subjects, this school has a solid foundation. If it can translate its science and math momentum into literacy gains, I. T. Montgomery has the potential to rise considerably higher in the years ahead.