Quitman Upper Elementary School

Quitman Upper Elementary School serves 327 students in grades 3–5 in Quitman, MS, and is one of two schools in the Quitman School District. The school has made real progress over the past several years, rising from the bottom quartile of Mississippi schools to a solid mid-range position, currently holding a 2-star rating and ranking 205th out of 377 schools statewide. Nearly all students come from low-income households—about 80% qualify for free or reduced-price lunch—and the school maintains a favorable student-teacher ratio of roughly 12 to 1.

Academically, Quitman Upper shows an interesting pattern. Third grade is the weakest point, especially in math, where only 31.6% of students are proficient compared to 48.8% statewide. By fourth and fifth grade, students catch up significantly; fifth grade math actually exceeds the state average, with 51.5% proficient versus 49.6% statewide. Science remains below average, with 64.9% proficient versus 71.5% statewide. Nearby schools like Clarkdale Elementary School and Enterprise Elementary post much higher scores, but they also serve far fewer low-income students. Compared to William J. Berry Elementary School, which has similar poverty levels, Quitman Upper holds its own in several subjects.

The biggest concern is chronic absenteeism. In 2023–24, 30.9% of Quitman Upper students were chronically absent, more than double the rate from 2018–19 and well above the state average. Nearby William J. Berry, with even higher poverty, has only 10.2% chronic absenteeism, suggesting attendance is a controllable issue. Quitman Lower Elementary, the feeder school, has an even higher rate at 32.9%, so early intervention is critical. Reducing absenteeism and strengthening early-grade math and reading instruction could help Quitman Upper reach a 3-star rating and top-half statewide status.