French Camp Elementary

French Camp Elementary is a small K-6 public school in French Camp, MS, serving just 118 students in the Choctaw County Schools district. Despite serving a rural community with very high economic need — nearly all students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch — the school has earned a 5-star rating and ranked 34th out of 377 Mississippi elementary schools in 2025–2026, putting it in the 91st percentile. This is not a one-year fluke: over the past decade, French Camp has never ranked below the 86th percentile statewide, a remarkable track record for a school of its size.

Math is clearly the school's signature subject. In 2025–2026, proficiency rates reached 85.7% in 3rd grade, 95% in 4th grade, 77% in 5th grade, and 85.7% in 6th grade — all far above state averages and even ahead of Ackerman Elementary, the other top-performing school in the district. Early literacy is also a strength: 92.9% of 3rd graders were proficient in English Language Arts, nearly double the state average. Attendance is another standout, with a chronic absenteeism rate of just 13.0% in 2023–2024, well below the state rate of 23.9% and far lower than nearby schools like Eupora Elementary (32.0%) and Greenlee Attendance Center (22.9%). A favorable student-teacher ratio of 12.2 also means more individual attention for students.

The one notable weakness is 4th grade English Language Arts, where proficiency has dipped to 50–55% in recent years — below district averages and puzzling given the school's strong 3rd grade results. Science scores in 5th grade have also been inconsistent, ranging from 69% to 89% over the past few years. With such small grade-level cohorts, a difference of just a few students can swing these numbers significantly. Still, the overall pattern is clear: French Camp Elementary is a high-performing, high-poverty rural school that has built durable strengths in math, early literacy, and attendance, making it a genuine asset to the Choctaw County Schools district.