Osyka Elementary School

Osyka Elementary School is a small, rural school in Osyka, Mississippi, serving 214 students in grades PK–6 as part of the South Pike School District. Despite being a high-poverty school where every student qualifies for free or reduced lunch, Osyka has built a strong academic reputation. Over the past decade, its state ranking has climbed from near the bottom (346th out of 394 schools in 2015–2016) to a peak of 40th out of 390 in 2023–2024. It currently ranks 156th out of 377 Mississippi elementary schools with a 3-star rating — the best among nearby schools.

Osyka consistently outperforms neighboring schools like Summit Elementary School, Otken Elementary School, and Eva Gordon Lower Elementary School in most subjects. In 3rd-grade math, 53.8% of Osyka students scored proficient versus 42.9% at Eva Gordon and 38.4% at Summit. Its 4th-grade math proficiency (53.1%) also beats Summit (36.5%) and Otken (43.6%). Math is a clear signature strength — 6th-grade math proficiency reached 92% in 2023–2024, far above the state's 51.8%. Science is also strong, with 5th-grade proficiency hitting 93.8% that same year.

Two factors likely drive Osyka's success: attendance and class size. Its chronic absenteeism rate was just 11.5% in 2023–2024 — less than half the state average of 23.9% and far below Otken's 32.4%. The student-to-teacher ratio of 11.2 is the lowest among nearby schools. That said, some recent scores have slipped from the 2023–2024 peak — 5th-grade ELA fell to 38% in 2025–2026, below the state average, and 6th-grade math dropped to 51.6%. Small schools can see big swings from year to year, but Osyka remains a strong option worth watching.