South Delta High School

South Delta High School in Rolling Fork, MS, is a small high school serving 176 students in grades 9–12 and is part of the South Delta School District, a district ranked in the bottom 13% of Mississippi districts. The school itself is currently ranked in the 1st percentile statewide and has received a 0-star rating for two straight years. When compared to nearby Simmons High School in Hollandale—which serves a similar student population and poverty level—South Delta trails significantly. For example, only 14.3% of South Delta students are proficient in Algebra I, compared to 68.0% at Simmons and 66.0% statewide. English II and Biology proficiency rates are also far below both Simmons and the state average.

One of the most alarming issues is chronic absenteeism. In 2023–2024, nearly half of South Delta students (49.7%) were chronically absent, more than double the rate at Simmons (20.4%) and more than double the state average (23.9%). This likely plays a major role in the low test scores. However, the school does have some bright spots: its graduation rate is 94.6%, above both Simmons (91.7%) and the state (89.2%). South Delta also excels in U.S. History, with proficiency rates at or above the state average in recent years. The student–teacher ratio of 8.0 means smaller class sizes and more potential for individual attention than at Simmons (10.6).

Despite these positive indicators, the overall picture is concerning. The high graduation rate appears to mask the fact that most students are not reaching basic proficiency in core subjects like Algebra I and English II. Test scores also swing dramatically from year to year, which is common with such a small student body, but the long-term trend remains well below state averages. Because Simmons High School—just 18 miles away and serving an equally high-poverty community—achieves much better results, South Delta’s low performance is not inevitable. The most urgent needs are reducing chronic absenteeism and raising academic proficiency in core subjects. Until then, South Delta is likely to remain among the lowest-performing high schools in Mississippi.