Schools in Zip Code 38659

ZIP code 38659 in Potts Camp, Mississippi is served by two schools in the Marshall County School District (ranked 82 out of 134 districts in Mississippi): Potts Camp High School, serving grades 5–12 with 356 students, and Mary Reid School, serving grades K–4 with 270 students. Combined enrollment is 626 students, and both schools serve nearly 100% economically disadvantaged students, with free/reduced lunch rates of 99.16% and 98.89%, respectively. There is no separate middle school in this ZIP code, as Potts Camp High School covers grades 5 through 8.

Each school has distinct strengths. Potts Camp High School has a strong 94.5% graduation rate, exceeding the district (87.9%) and state (89.2%), along with solid science scores—8th grade science (59.6% proficient) topped the state, and 5th grade science reached 65.4%. English II proficiency (62.9%) also far surpassed district and state averages. However, its statewide ranking slipped from the 33rd percentile to the 25th percentile over two years. Mary Reid School posts a better chronic absenteeism rate (19.7%) than the district (26.2%) and state (23.9%), and 3rd grade math reached 59.6% proficiency in 2024–25. Yet Mary Reid's rank also declined, from the 45th to the 37th percentile.

The biggest concern is 7th grade at Potts Camp High School, where only 14% of students are proficient in ELA and 21% in math—far below state averages. Year-to-year scores are also highly volatile: Algebra I plummeted from 80.6% to 29.2% in one year, while English II jumped from 36.4% to 62.9%, suggesting small cohorts and unstable instructional alignment. Despite these challenges, high poverty does not dictate outcomes, as proven by Potts Camp's strong graduation rate and Mary Reid's better-than-average attendance. Parents should be aware of the downward trend in statewide rankings while also recognizing the genuine bright spots in science, English II, and early-grade math.