Overpark Elementary School

Overpark Elementary School is a PK–5 school in Olive Branch, MS, serving 635 students in the DeSoto County School District. The school’s strongest assets are its early-grade literacy, excellent attendance, and notably small class sizes. In 2025-2026, 3rd and 4th grade English Language Arts scores (51.4% and 54.6% proficient) edged past both district and state averages. With a chronic absenteeism rate of just 16.2%—far below the district’s 26.4%—and a student-teacher ratio of 14.7:1, the lowest among nearby schools, Overpark provides a stable and supportive learning environment, especially for younger students.

However, parents should be aware that the school has experienced a significant decline from its former academic standing. A decade ago, Overpark was a top-5% elementary school in Mississippi; today, its state ranking has slipped to the middle of the pack (196th out of 377 schools). This volatility is largely driven by a sharp drop in upper-elementary math and science. Most concerning is 5th grade math, where only 35.1% of students scored proficient compared to the 48% district average. This is a substantial gap when looking at nearby peers: Center Hill Elementary posted 65.4% proficiency and Pleasant Hill Elementary posted 57.4% in the same subject, despite serving similar student populations.

On a positive note, Overpark compares favorably to some of the more challenged schools in the area, such as Byhalia Elementary and Chickasaw Elementary, outperforming them in both literacy and overall rank. The combination of strong attendance, low class sizes, and decent early literacy gives the school a solid foundation to build on. The key takeaway for prospective parents is that Overpark offers a caring, well-staffed environment where younger children thrive in reading, but the school’s inconsistent upper-grade STEM performance is a critical area demanding attention and improvement.