Scott Central Attendance Center

Scott Central Attendance Center is a PK–12 alternative school in Forest, Mississippi, serving 856 students within the Scott County School District, which holds a 3-star rating. The school serves an overwhelmingly economically disadvantaged population, with 99.65% of students qualifying for free or reduced-price lunch in 2024-25. The student-teacher ratio rose notably this year to 17.2, up from 13.4 the previous year.

Academically, Scott Central presents a mixed picture. Early elementary years are a critical concern: only 19.5% of 3rd graders scored proficient in English Language Arts and 22.3% of 4th graders in math, compared to state averages of 48.5% and 51.5%, respectively. However, 8th grade is a clear bright spot, with math proficiency at 52.7% (above the state's 51.4%) and science at 54.5%. High school Biology is also a standout at 85.2% proficiency, well above the state's 63.1%. Conversely, English II remains a persistent weakness at 37.7% versus 49.3% statewide. The school's graduation rate of 83.3% trails the state's 89.2% and is well below nearby Sebastopol Attendance Center's perfect 100%.

Chronic absenteeism is a significant barrier, with 37.1% of students chronically absent in 2023-24 compared to 23.9% statewide—a rate that has nearly doubled since 2018-19. This challenge affects the entire district, as Sebastopol also exceeds the state rate. Year-to-year proficiency results fluctuate dramatically, making it hard to draw firm conclusions from any single year. Yet the comparison with Sebastopol—which serves nearly identical demographics but outperforms Scott Central in most elementary and middle school subjects—suggests meaningful improvement is possible. Targeted support for early-grade reading and attendance could yield substantial gains.