Spann Elementary School

Spann Elementary School is a K–5 school in Jackson, MS, serving 433 students in the Jackson Public Schools district, which is a high-poverty area where 100% of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch. While the district as a whole ranks in the bottom 16% of Mississippi schools, Spann is a clear positive outlier, earning a 2-star rating and ranking at the 31st percentile statewide—a solidly mid-tier performance that has improved over the past two years.

Academically, Spann outperforms its district average in most subjects and grade levels. The biggest bright spot is 5th grade science, where 73.5% of students are proficient—a rate that beats the district (57.7%), matches the state average (71.5%), and rivals top nearby schools like Casey Elementary School (73.2%) and Walton Elementary School (74.5%). Spann also posts strong 5th grade ELA (50%) and math (41.2%) scores. However, performance is uneven: 3rd and 4th grade math proficiency sits at just 27–29%, suggesting a need for earlier math intervention. In its neighborhood, Spann sits between high-flying schools like McWillie Elementary School (85th percentile) and low-performing peers like Boyd Elementary School (2nd percentile) and Smilow Collegiate (8th percentile).

One of Spann’s clearest advantages is attendance: only 19.3% of students are chronically absent, far below the district average of 30.1% and much healthier than nearby Boyd (41.7%). This strong attendance culture likely helps explain the school’s above-average results. Families should note that Spann’s student–teacher ratio rose from 13.5 to 17.2 in the last year, which could signal growing class sizes. Overall, Spann is a stable, middle-of-the-pack school that delivers better-than-expected outcomes given its district context—and with its strong 5th grade science program as a model, it has real potential to keep climbing.