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Lester Elementary School

Public Grades

Summary

Lester Elementary School is a public elementary school in Jackson, Mississippi, serving 187 students in grades K-5. The school is part of the Jackson Public School District, which is ranked 110 out of 130 districts in the state and has a 1-star rating.

Lester Elementary School stands out for its significantly higher percentage of African American students (94.12%) compared to the surrounding schools, which range from 76% to 98.55% African American. Academically, the school has consistently low performance, with proficiency rates well below the district and state averages. For example, in the 2023-2024 school year, only 7.9% of 3rd graders, 3.6% of 4th graders, and 28% of 5th graders were proficient or better in English Language Arts, compared to the district averages of 36.5%, 35.6%, and 36.9%, respectively. Lester Elementary School has been ranked among the lowest-performing elementary schools in Mississippi, with a ranking of 388 out of 390 schools in the 2023-2024 school year and a 0-star rating from SchoolDigger.

While the nearby schools in the Jackson Public School District also struggle with low academic performance, Lester Elementary School consistently ranks among the lowest-performing schools in the district and the state. For example, Barack H. Obama Elementary School, which is located within the same district, ranked 17 out of 390 schools in the 2023-2024 school year, demonstrating a stark contrast in academic achievement. The high percentage of students receiving free and reduced lunch at Lester Elementary School suggests that the school serves a population with significant economic challenges, which may contribute to the low academic performance.

168

Students ?

11.9

Student/teacher ratio ?

100%

Free/discounted lunch ?

2350 Oakhurst Drive
Jackson, MS 39204

(601) 371-4339

District: Jackson Public Schools

Students who attend Lester Elementary School usually attend:

Middle:	Bailey APAC Middle School
	Northwest Middle School
	Peeples Middle School
High:	Jim Hill High School

Racial breakdown:

African American:

94.0%

Hispanic:

3.0%

Two or more races:

2.4%

See top rated Mississippi public schools

Compare Lester Elementary School to nearby schools!

At a glance

▼ Ranking trend: Declining — 27th percentile in 2013 → 1st in 2024

Strengths

✓Small classes — about 12 students per teacher

Worth a look

!Test scores below the Mississippi average (13% vs 57% meeting standards)

!Ranking has slipped — down 26 percentile points since 2013

!Mathematics scores 49 pts below the Mississippi average

Students meeting standards (2023-2024) ?

This school13%

District avg34%

Mississippi avg57%

Not ranked this year

Lester Elementary School did not have enough recent test-score data to be ranked. Check the trend below for past years.

103^rd of 130Jackson Public Schools among Mississippi districts

Statewide rank percentile over time (100 = the top-ranked school in the state; click a legend item to add a student group)

Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Mississippi percentile	Rating
2024	2.9	388 of 390	0.5%	☆☆☆☆☆
2022	70.4	107 of 382	72.0%	★★★★☆
2021	28.3	260 of 381	31.8%	★★☆☆☆
2019	45.2	224 of 397	43.6%	★★☆☆☆
2018	31.9	284 of 404	29.7%	★★☆☆☆
2017	18.9	347 of 406	14.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2016	13.2	370 of 394	6.1%	☆☆☆☆☆
2015	13.2	388 of 402	3.5%	☆☆☆☆☆
2014	21.2	343 of 394	12.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2013	32.9	298 of 408	27.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2012	26.7	337 of 414	18.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2011	29.4	328 of 418	21.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2010	43.4	243 of 403	39.7%	★★☆☆☆
2009	46.5	226 of 392	42.3%	★★☆☆☆
2008	45.5	232 of 394	41.1%	★★☆☆☆

By subject vs Mississippi (2023-2024) ?

Science40%-31 vs state

English Language Arts12%-43 vs state

Mathematics5%-49 vs state

2.0

1 rating · 1 written review

5★0

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3★0

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1★0

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What people are saying

by a parent
Wednesday, October 7, 2009

My children have to walk home in a busy and not-so-safe area. My oldest son's performance has spiraled downward since he enrolled here. The teacher took away their recess because they had "too much work". The teachers are rude to the students. Also there are no extra activities (i.e. football, basketball, etc.) to motivate the children. Close Quote

Frequently Asked Questions about Lester Elementary School

What district is Lester Elementary School in?

Jackson Public Schools

How many students attend Lester Elementary School?

In the 2023-24 school year, 168 students attended Lester Elementary School.

What is the racial makeup of Lester Elementary School?

Students at Lester Elementary School are 94% African American, 3% Hispanic, 2% Two or more races.

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MSMississippi School Rankings

MSMississippi District Rankings

Schools in Jackson, MS

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SchoolDigger data sources: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education, the U.S. Census Bureau and the Mississippi Department of Education.

IMPORTANT DISCLAIMERS: Not all boundaries are included. We make every effort to ensure that boundaries are up-to-date. But it's important to note that these are approximations and are for general informational purposes only. To verify legal descriptions of boundaries or school locations, contact your local tax assessor's office and/or school district.