Dexter Elementary School

Dexter Elementary School is a small, rural public school in Tylertown, Mississippi, serving 74 students in grades K-8 within the Walthall County School District. The school's defining feature is its exceptionally low student-teacher ratio of 5.7:1, roughly three times smaller than nearby West Marion Primary School (19.7:1), Columbia Elementary School (13.1:1), and Tylertown Primary School (14.9:1). Like many schools in the region, Dexter serves a high-poverty population, with nearly 92% of students eligible for free/reduced lunch.

Dexter has made one of the most dramatic academic turnarounds in the area. After ranking in the bottom 1-2% of Mississippi elementary schools between 2009 and 2014, the school climbed to the 54th percentile by 2025-26, placing it in the top half of the state for the first time in over a decade. The school now outperforms its own district in every subject and grade reported. In 4th grade math, 50% of Dexter students scored proficient, compared to just 29.4% for the Walthall County School District. Fifth grade math (46.2%) also outpaced the district (37.7%), as did 5th grade ELA (61.6% vs. 51.9%). Even with these gains, West Marion Primary School holds a higher overall ranking, with stronger 3rd grade math scores (68.9% proficient).

The school's most pressing challenge is chronic absenteeism. In 2023-24, 27.0% of Dexter students were chronically absent, nearly double the rate at Tylertown Primary School (13.0%) and above the state average (23.9%). This rate has hovered between 27% and 31% since 2021-22, meaning more than one in four students is missing significant instructional time. Despite this obstacle, Dexter's small class sizes and targeted instruction have allowed it to post scores that rival or exceed neighboring East Marion Elementary School and Columbia Elementary School. If attendance improved to district norms, the school would be well-positioned to keep building on its hard-won gains.