Marshall Elementary School

Marshall Elementary School is a small, rural PK–6 school in North Carrollton, Mississippi, serving 391 students in the Carroll County School District, where it is the district's only elementary campus—meaning the school's test scores entirely define the district's ranking. Marshall serves a highly disadvantaged population, with 84.1% of students qualifying for free or reduced lunch. The school's performance has declined steadily over the past decade, dropping from the 35th percentile in 2016–17 to the 7th percentile in the latest rankings, earning zero stars.

Reading and math proficiency are roughly half the state average. Only 24% of third graders are proficient in English Language Arts, compared to 48.5% statewide, and just 19.6% of fourth graders are proficient in math, versus 51.5% statewide. The contrast with Grenada Elementary School, less than 20 miles away, is striking: Grenada is a 5-star school in the 97th percentile, with 77.1% third-grade math proficiency compared to Marshall's 22%. Perhaps more instructive is Winona Elementary School, which serves an even higher-poverty student body (99% free/reduced lunch) yet achieves nearly triple Marshall's third-grade math proficiency. Success is clearly possible in similar circumstances.

Nearly a quarter of Marshall students are chronically absent, missing 10% or more of school days—a rate that has nearly doubled since 2018–19. The one bright spot is science: 60.5% of fifth graders are proficient, the school's strongest subject, though this fluctuates widely with such small grade cohorts. Parents should understand that Marshall is a school in need of intensive support, particularly in foundational reading and math. While it outperforms a few very low-scoring schools in the Greenwood area, it lags behind peers like Bankston Elementary School in several grade-level subjects. Low scores, rising absenteeism, and a decade-long downward trend are the most significant takeaways.