Summary:
Zip code 38603 is home to a single high school, Ashland High School, a small combined middle/high school serving grades 7 through 12 in Ashland, Mississippi, under the Benton County School District. With 212 students and a favorable 10.4 student-to-teacher ratio, Ashland is the only option for families in this area, so the most useful comparisons are against district and state averages. The school holds a 96.3% graduation rate, well above the state's 89.2%, but its state ranking is low at 181 out of 224 high schools, placing it in the bottom fifth of Mississippi schools.
Academically, Ashland struggles most in mathematics. In 2025-26, only 28.9% of students were proficient in Algebra I versus 66.0% statewide, and 8th grade math proficiency was just 19.3% compared to the state's 51.4%. English II is a relative bright spot at 45.9% proficiency, nearly matching the state average of 49.3%, while 8th grade ELA jumped from 21.1% to 32.3% year over year. U.S. History was an outstanding performer in 2024-25 at 80.6% proficient, beating both the district and state. However, other subjects lag noticeably, including 7th grade ELA at 14.3% proficient versus 36.7% statewide.
Context matters here: 88.21% of Ashland students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, a high-poverty rate that often correlates with lower test scores despite the school's small class sizes. The school also shows volatile year-to-year swings—8th grade science dropped from 50% to 35.5%, and Algebra I fell 15.6 points—which is common with only 212 students, where one cohort can shift results dramatically. Chronic absenteeism sits at 23.3%, in line with the state average. Overall, Ashland High School offers a strong graduation rate and small classes, but families should be aware that most core subject proficiency remains below district and state levels, especially in math.
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