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Mendenhall Elementary School

Public Grades PK, KG-6

296^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 377 Mississippi Elementary Schools

Better than 21% of Mississippi elementary schools

Summary

Mendenhall Elementary School serves 598 students in grades PK–6 in Mendenhall, Mississippi, a small town in Simpson County, and is part of the Simpson County School District. The school serves a high-poverty population — 86.6% of students qualified for free or reduced lunch in 2024-2025 — and faces a serious attendance challenge. Chronic absenteeism reached 35.7% in 2023-2024, far above the state average of 23.9%, and well above nearby schools like Simpson Central School (21.7%), New Hebron School (12.4%), and Florence Elementary (9.5%). Attendance was just 7.4% before the pandemic, but has remained elevated since.

Academically, the school has declined from a 3-star, above-average rating in 2017-2018 to a 1-star rating in the 21st percentile in 2025-2026. Most proficiency rates on Mississippi's MAAP assessments fall below state averages. Math is a particular concern in upper elementary: 5th grade proficiency was 27.3% and 6th grade was 30.1%, compared to 72.7% and 81.3% at nearby Puckett Elementary. Even within the same district, Simpson Central School posted much higher 5th grade math scores (68.8%).

There are some bright spots. Fourth grade English Language Arts reached 50.8% proficiency in 2025-2026 — nearly matching the state average — and 5th grade science has been steadily improving, reaching 62.4%. Mendenhall also outperforms its district in several subjects. However, the contrast with nearby Rankin County School District schools within a 20-mile radius is stark: Florence Elementary posts 5th grade math proficiency of 87.1% and chronic absenteeism of just 9.5%, highlighting how district and community factors shape outcomes. For families, the most actionable concerns are attendance and the transition into upper-elementary math.

598

Students ?

16.1

Student/teacher ratio ?

$11,389

Per pupil spending ?

86.6%

Free/discounted lunch ?

814 East Street
Mendenhall, MS 39114

(601) 847-2621

District: Simpson County School District

Racial breakdown:

African American:

48.8%

White:

45.7%

Two or more races:

2.8%

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Compare Mendenhall Elementary School to nearby elementary schools!

At a glance

▼ Ranking trend: Declining — 48th percentile in 2016 → 21st in 2026

Worth a look

!Test scores below the Mississippi average (38% vs 53% meeting standards)

!In the lower quartile statewide (21st percentile)

!High chronic absenteeism (36% vs 24% Mississippi)

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school38%

District avg38%

Mississippi avg53%

296^th of 377

Mississippi public elementary schools ?

Bottom 21%▼ down 27 pts since 2016

From bottom 48% (2016) to bottom 21% (2026)

See the entire ranking list of Mississippi Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

2^nd of 3Elementary Schools in the Simpson County School District

110^th of 134Simpson County School District among Mississippi districts

Statewide rank percentile over time (100 = the top-ranked school in the state; click a legend item to add a student group)

Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Mississippi percentile	Rating
2026	26.2	296 of 377	21.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2025	26.9	292 of 383	23.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	28.3	288 of 390	26.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	34.1	260 of 377	31.0%	★★☆☆☆
2022	46.7	206 of 382	46.1%	★★☆☆☆
2021	42.1	217 of 381	43.0%	★★☆☆☆
2019	45.3	222 of 397	44.1%	★★☆☆☆
2018	56.6	171 of 404	57.7%	★★★☆☆
2017	57.4	167 of 406	58.9%	★★★☆☆
2016	46.3	204 of 394	48.2%	★★☆☆☆
2015	68.4	109 of 402	72.9%	★★★★☆
2014	44.3	229 of 394	41.9%	★★☆☆☆
2013	36.0	278 of 408	31.9%	★★☆☆☆
2012	26.7	335 of 414	19.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2011	49.4	218 of 418	47.8%	★★☆☆☆
2010	34.8	286 of 403	29.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2009	44.6	233 of 392	40.6%	★★☆☆☆
2008	45.8	229 of 394	41.9%	★★☆☆☆

By subject vs Mississippi (2025-2026) ?

Science62%-9 vs state

English Language Arts37%-14 vs state

Mathematics34%-17 vs state

★

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Schools Near Mendenhall Elementary School

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Ranking:

E Elementary M Middle H High A Alternative P Private

Choose columns to see: Summary School Students/Teachers Ranking Test Scores Finance All

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2026)				Ranking (2025)				MAAP English Language Arts (2026)						MAAP Mathematics (2026)						MAAP Science (2026)		Per Pupil Expenditures (2024)
Name	Type	Grades	Address	City	Zip	County	District	Is Charter	Is Magnet	Is Virtual	Is Title I	Phone	Enrollment	Full-time Teachers	Student/ Teacher Ratio	Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients (2025)	White	Black	Hispanic	Asian	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Average Standard Score (2026)	Statewide Rank (2026)	State Percentile (2026)	SchoolDigger Rating (2026)	Average Standard Score (2025)	Statewide Rank (2025)	State Percentile (2025)	Rank Change from Previous Year	MAAP English Language Arts 3rd Grade	MAAP English Language Arts 4th Grade	MAAP English Language Arts 5th Grade	MAAP English Language Arts 6th Grade	MAAP English Language Arts 7th Grade	MAAP English Language Arts 8th Grade	MAAP Mathematics 3rd Grade	MAAP Mathematics 4th Grade	MAAP Mathematics 5th Grade	MAAP Mathematics 6th Grade	MAAP Mathematics 7th Grade	MAAP Mathematics 8th Grade	MAAP Science 5th Grade	MAAP Science 8th Grade	Total
Mendenhall Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-6	814 East Street	Mendenhall	39114	Simpson County	Simpson County School District	No	No	No	Yes	(601) 847-2621	598	37	16.1	86.6%	273 (45.7%)	292 (48.8%)	14 (2.3%)	2 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	17 (2.8%)	26.2	296^th of 377 public elementary schools	21.5%		26.9	292^nd of 383 public elementary schools	23.8%	4	30.6	50.8	41.6	27.6			41.1	37.0	27.3	30.1			62.4		$11,389
Magee Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	1035 Goodwater Rd NW	Magee	39111	Simpson County	Simpson County School District	No	No	No	Yes	(601) 849-3601	525	31	17.0	92.0%	144 (27.4%)	317 (60.4%)	32 (6.1%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	31 (5.9%)	21.4	317^th of 377 public elementary schools	15.9%		22.1	319^th of 383 public elementary schools	16.7%	2	27.1	26.7	36.2				41.9	33.8	37.6				53.6		$11,172
Puckett Elementary	Public	PK, KG-6	6382 Hwy 18	Puckett	39151	Rankin County	Rankin County School District	No	No	No	Yes	(601) 825-6140	351	28	12.7	43.6%	281 (80.1%)	52 (14.8%)	5 (1.4%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	13 (3.7%)	85.4	40^th of 377 public elementary schools	89.4%		83.7	49^th of 383 public elementary schools	87.2%	9	64.1	74.0	72.7	60.4			69.2	52.0	72.7	81.3			88.6		$12,282
Simpson Central School	Public	PK, KG-8	755 Simpson Hwy 28 W	Pinola	39114	Simpson County	Simpson County School District	No	No	No	Yes	(601) 847-2630	388	26	15.1	84.0%	219 (56.4%)	150 (38.7%)	5 (1.3%)	4 (1.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	10 (2.6%)	35.5	247^th of 377 public elementary schools	34.5%		53.4	178^th of 383 public elementary schools	53.5%	69	38.4	40.0	31.3	32.4	52.2	27.7	38.5	53.3	68.8	35.3	56.5	42.6	56.3	51.1	$12,631
McLaurin Elementary	Public	PK, KG-6	2693 Star Rd.	Florence	39073	Rankin County	Rankin County School District	No	No	No	Yes	(601) 845-2127	504	40	12.7	75.2%	352 (69.8%)	71 (14.1%)	35 (6.9%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	45 (8.9%)	82.1	53^rd of 377 public elementary schools	85.9%		75.6	79^th of 383 public elementary schools	79.4%	26	63.2	63.3	69.4	60.3			54.4	69.6	77.4	64.1			87.1		$12,097
New Hebron School	Public	K-8	120 Golden Bear Lane	Newhebron	39140	Lawrence County	Lawrence County School District	No	No	No	Yes	(601) 694-2151	259	24	10.6	96.9%	87 (33.6%)	159 (61.4%)	3 (1.2%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	10 (3.9%)	47.9	195^th of 377 public elementary schools	48.3%		42.7	222^nd of 383 public elementary schools	42.0%	27	52.0	53.9	39.1	58.3	23.1	18.7	48.0	42.3	30.4	70.9	38.4	9.4	47.8	28.2	$14,466
Steens Creek Elementary	Public	PK, KG-2	300 Hwy 469 N	Florence	39073	Rankin County	Rankin County School District	No	No	No	No	(601) 845-5724	582	34	16.9	48.5%	482 (82.8%)	61 (10.5%)	7 (1.2%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (0.3%)	29 (5.0%)								(n/a)															$11,358
Florence Elementary	Public	3-5	285 Hwy 469 N	Florence	39073	Rankin County	Rankin County School District	No	No	No	No	(601) 845-8164	537	35	15.2	48.2%	433 (80.6%)	71 (13.2%)	8 (1.5%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	24 (4.5%)	96.1	5^th of 377 public elementary schools	98.7%		93.3	15^th of 383 public elementary schools	96.1%	10	81.0	83.1	80.9				75.8	83.6	87.1				92.9		$10,815
Stonebridge Elementary	Public	2-3	115 StoneBridge Blvd	Brandon	39042	Rankin County	Rankin County School District	No	No	No	No	(601) 824-3287	742	49	15.1	42.3%	394 (53.1%)	254 (34.2%)	35 (4.7%)	3 (0.4%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	56 (7.5%)								(n/a)	54.6						54.4								$10,444

Frequently Asked Questions about Mendenhall Elementary School

What is the racial makeup of Mendenhall Elementary School?

Students at Mendenhall Elementary School are 49% African American, 46% White, 3% Two or more races, 2% Hispanic.

What district is Mendenhall Elementary School in?

Simpson County School District

How many students attend Mendenhall Elementary School?

In the 2024-25 school year, 598 students attended Mendenhall Elementary School.

What schools do graduates of Mendenhall Elementary School attend?

Students who attend Mendenhall Elementary School usually go on to attend:

High : Mendenhall High School

Is Mendenhall Elementary School a good school?

Mendenhall Elementary School ranks in the bottom 21.5% of Mississippi elementary schools.

Rate Mendenhall Elementary School!

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Latest Mississippi data All new data »

2025–26 MAAP test scoresAug 21, 2026

2023–24 school spending dataSep 26, 2025

2023–24 through 2024–25 attendance data & graduation ratesSep 26, 2025

2023–24 graduation ratesSep 23, 2025

SchoolDigger data sources: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education, the U.S. Census Bureau and the Mississippi Department of Education.

IMPORTANT DISCLAIMERS: Not all boundaries are included. We make every effort to ensure that boundaries are up-to-date. But it's important to note that these are approximations and are for general informational purposes only. To verify legal descriptions of boundaries or school locations, contact your local tax assessor's office and/or school district.