Lumberton Elementary School

Lumberton Elementary School is a PK–6 school in Lumberton, Mississippi, serving 287 students as part of the Lamar County School District, a 4-star district that ranks 30th out of 134 in the state. Yet Lumberton itself ranks in the bottom quarter of Mississippi elementary schools (274th out of 377, one star), making it a significant outlier within its own district. The school serves a very high-poverty population — about 90% of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch — but it also has a favorable student-teacher ratio of 11.2 to 1, lower than most nearby schools.

Academically, Lumberton trails both its district and the state in nearly every subject and grade tested. The most dramatic gaps appear in 5th grade: only 9.3% of 5th graders scored proficient in math, compared to 52.0% for the district and 49.6% statewide, and just 25.6% reached proficiency in science versus 71.5% for both the district and state. Chronic absenteeism is also a major concern, with about one in four students (24.9%) chronically absent in 2023–24 — well above the district rate of 18.6% and higher than every other elementary school in the district, including Bellevue Elementary (15.4%), Purvis Lower Elementary (15.3%), and Baxterville School (14.0%).

There are bright spots worth noting. Lumberton's 4th grade math scores exceeded both the district and state (59.4% proficient vs. 58.4% and 51.5%), showing the school is capable of competitive results. And while poverty is high, it isn't destiny — Baxterville School, another rural school in the same district with a poverty rate near 78%, ranks in the top third of Mississippi schools, and South Forrest Attendance Center posts far stronger scores despite similar absenteeism. With small class sizes and a capable district behind it, Lumberton has a foundation to build on, but addressing attendance and the 5th grade drop-off will be critical.