William J. Berry Elementary School

William J Berry Elementary School is a public elementary school serving grades PK-6 in Heidelberg, Mississippi, with 394 students. The school is part of the East Jasper Consolidated School District, which is ranked 77 out of 130 districts in the state and has a 2-star rating.

William J Berry Elementary has struggled with several key challenges, including high chronic absenteeism rates ranging from 10.2% to 23.9% over the past few years, significantly above the state average. The school's academic performance, as measured by MAAP test scores, is generally below the state averages across grade levels and subject areas, with proficiency rates ranging from 28.3% to 54.8% in math and 37.7% to 51.9% in English Language Arts, compared to state averages of 48.3% to 56.6% in math and 46.7% to 55.9% in ELA. Additionally, the school has extremely high rates of free and reduced-price lunch recipients, ranging from 99.27% to 100% over the past few years, indicating a high-poverty student population.

When comparing William J Berry Elementary to nearby schools, such as Glade Elementary School and Laurel Magnet School Of The Arts, both within 20 miles, it generally performs worse academically. However, the high chronic absenteeism rates and very high percentages of economically disadvantaged students are consistent with the surrounding schools, suggesting the broader community faces significant socioeconomic challenges.