Rankin Elementary School

Rankin Elementary School is a grades 3–5 campus in Tupelo, Mississippi, serving 375 students as part of the Tupelo Public School District. The school serves a largely economically disadvantaged population, with about 72% of students qualifying for free or reduced-price lunch, yet it maintains a favorable student-teacher ratio of 12.6 and notably strong attendance, with a chronic absenteeism rate of just 15.2% — far below the district rate of 29.3% and the state rate of 23.9%.

Rankin is currently the highest-ranked upper-elementary school in the Tupelo district, placing 171st out of 377 Mississippi elementary schools with a 3-star rating. It outperforms district peers like Lawhon Elementary School, Pierce Street Elementary School, and Lawndale Elementary School. The school's signature strengths are English language arts and science. ELA proficiency averages 52.8% across grades 3–5, above the district average of 48.5%, and 5th-grade science is exceptional at 81.1% proficient, well above both district (73.8%) and state (71.5%) averages — even approaching the 90.3% scored by nearby Mooreville Elementary School.

The biggest concern at Rankin is math, particularly in 5th grade, where only 31% of students scored proficient in 2025–26 — the lowest among comparable Tupelo schools and far below the state average of 49.6%. This represents a steep drop from 67.3% just two years earlier, and the decline appears to follow cohorts as they advance through the school — a trend that warrants immediate attention. Rankin's overall state ranking has also declined steadily over the past decade, from the 88th percentile in 2016–17 to the 55th percentile today. While the school remains a solid choice with strong science, reading, and attendance, parents should be aware of the growing math challenges, which may require additional support at home.