A.W. James Elementary

A.W. James Elementary is a PK-5 school in Drew, Mississippi, serving 219 students in the Sunflower County Consolidated School District, where 100% of students qualify for free/reduced lunch. The school ranks 207th out of 377 Mississippi elementary schools, placing it in the 45th percentile with a 2-star rating — a notably stronger showing than its district, which ranks in the 27th percentile.

A.W. James stands out as a positive outlier in its area. In 3rd and 4th grade math, the school's proficiency rates (55.9% and 52.9%) actually exceeded the state averages — a remarkable achievement for a school serving a 100% poverty population. It also outperforms its district in nearly every subject and grade level, and among ten nearby elementary schools, it ranks third-highest, behind only Bell Academy and Hayes Cooper Center. The contrast with its same-district neighbor Ruleville Central Elementary (ranked 336th) is especially striking — for example, 4th grade math proficiency is 52.9% at A.W. James versus just 6.1% at Ruleville. The school also maintains a favorable 12.6 student-teacher ratio, lower than most nearby schools, and has a chronic absenteeism rate of 18.1% — better than the state average and many of its peers.

There are areas to watch. While early-grade math is a clear strength, 5th grade math (38.7% proficient) falls well below the state average, suggesting gains aren't always sustained into upper elementary. Science proficiency (58.1%) also trails the state by over 13 points, though it outpaces the district. Because the school has small grade-level cohorts, test scores can swing significantly from year to year, so single-year results should be interpreted cautiously. Overall, A.W. James is a solid mid-tier school that delivers above-district results despite significant socioeconomic challenges, and reducing absenteeism further could help it climb the rankings.