McLeod Elementary School

McLeod Elementary School is a PK-5 school in Jackson, MS, serving 343 students in the Jackson Public Schools district, with nearly all students (99.71%) qualifying for free/reduced lunch. The district ranks 112th out of 134 Mississippi districts and holds a 1-star rating, and McLeod itself is rated 1 star, placing in the 17th percentile statewide (313th out of 377 schools). The student-teacher ratio is 16.3, which is fairly typical for the area.

Academically, McLeod averages about 36.9% proficiency across MAAP subjects and grades, slightly above the Jackson Public Schools average of 35.5% but well below the 54.0% statewide average. The same district conditions produce much stronger results at nearby schools: McWillie Elementary, Casey Elementary, and North Jackson Elementary all serve equally high-poverty populations yet post roughly 71.7%, 67.5%, and 60.0% proficiency, respectively, outpacing McLeod by 20 to 35 points. On the other hand, McLeod outperforms nearby charter options like Revive Collegiate and Smilow Collegiate, which rank lower and have significantly higher chronic absenteeism. Even Highland Elementary in Madison County Schools, serving a more advantaged population, posts 4th grade ELA proficiency of 48.2% — nearly identical to McLeod's 47.5%.

McLeod's standout strength is attendance: only 12.9% of students were chronically absent in 2023-24, compared to 30.1% for Jackson Public Schools and 23.9% statewide. This suggests a stable, present student body. Upper-grade scores are also relatively solid — 4th grade ELA proficiency sits close to the state average, and 5th grade science essentially matches the district. The biggest concern is 3rd grade, where just 26% of students are proficient in ELA and 22.2% in math. Because students who remain at McLeod do make progress in later grades, the early-grade slump is the clearest lever for the school to improve.