Kemper County High School

Kemper County High School is a public high school located in De Kalb, Mississippi, serving grades 9-12 with a total enrollment of 337 students. The school is part of the Kemper County School District and has consistently ranked in the bottom half of Mississippi high schools, with a 1-star rating from SchoolDigger.

Kemper County High School's academic performance, as measured by standardized test scores, is significantly lower than the state average. For example, in the 2024-2025 school year, only 31.5% of students were proficient or better in MAAP English II, compared to the state average of 49.5%. The school's proficiency rates in Algebra I, Biology, and U.S. History are also below the state averages. However, Kemper County High School has had relatively high four-year graduation rates, ranging from 88.9% to 96.4% over the past few years. The school has struggled with high chronic absenteeism rates, ranging from 22.3% to 35.4% over the past few years, which is significantly higher than the state average.

The nearest comparable school is West Lauderdale High School, which is part of the Lauderdale County School District. West Lauderdale High School consistently outperforms Kemper County High School on academic measures, with significantly higher proficiency rates in core subjects. The high rates of chronic absenteeism and economic disadvantage at Kemper County High School may be contributing to the school's lower academic performance, and the school and district could explore strategies to address these challenges and improve outcomes for students.