Best Public Schools in Zip Code 38663

The 38663 ZIP code, serving the Ripley, Mississippi area, is home to four schools—Ripley Elementary School, Pine Grove High School, Ripley High School, and Ripley Middle School—all part of the South Tippah School District. Together, these schools enroll 2,108 students from kindergarten through 12th grade and serve a predominantly low-income population, with free-and-reduced lunch rates ranging from 73.1% at Pine Grove High School to 84.9% at Ripley Elementary School. The district is ranked 33rd out of 134 districts in Mississippi and holds a 4-star rating.

Each school has distinct strengths. Ripley Elementary School posts standout 3rd grade math scores (73.3% vs. 48.8% statewide) and the lowest chronic absenteeism in the ZIP code at 11.8%, though its 4th grade ELA falls to 40.5%, below the state average. Pine Grove High School, despite its alternative classification, is a hidden standout: it beats state averages in 4th grade ELA (63.6%), 6th grade math (72.2%), 8th grade math (70.0%), and U.S. History (86.1%), with a 94.9% graduation rate. Ripley High School leads the area with a 95.7% graduation rate and strong Biology (85.4%) and Algebra I (75.5%) end-of-course results, but English II proficiency fell to 39.1% versus the state's 49.3%. Ripley Middle School improved from a 2-star to 3-star rating, climbing from the 39th to the 60th percentile.

Across the district, the strongest pattern is early elementary math, while upper-grade English language arts is the clearest weakness. Chronic absenteeism is highest at Ripley High School (27.3%) and lowest at the elementary level, a pattern that aligns with weaker high school ELA outcomes. Notably, Pine Grove High School outperforms the traditional campuses in several overlapping grade levels, making it one of the most interesting schools in the area. However, state ranking trends are slipping at Ripley Elementary School (from the 78th to 65th percentile) and Ripley High School (83rd to 59th percentile), suggesting these schools deserve closer attention even as the district overall remains a solid 4-star choice for families.