Summary:
Zip code 38733 in Merigold, Mississippi, is served by a single school: Hayes Cooper Center, a PK-6 elementary school with 304 students that is part of the Cleveland School District. With no middle schools or high schools in the immediate area, this school serves as the primary educational hub for the community.
Hayes Cooper Center stands out as a strong academic performer within a district that ranks in the 34th percentile statewide. The school itself has ranked in the 63rd–68th percentile among Mississippi elementary schools for three consecutive years. It significantly outperforms its district in nearly every tested subject and grade level, particularly in upper elementary mathematics. The school also reports a remarkably low chronic absenteeism rate of just 7.0%, compared to 22.7% for the district and 23.9% for the state. With a student-teacher ratio of 14.7:1, class sizes are manageable, supporting individualized instruction.
Test results from the 2025-2026 school year show Hayes Cooper Center exceeding state proficiency averages in most areas, including 5th grade math (78.8% vs. 49.6% statewide), 6th grade math (82.8% vs. 52.7%), 3rd grade ELA (57.5% vs. 48.5%), and 5th grade science (72.7% vs. 71.5%). The school achieves these results while serving a student population where 100% qualify for free/reduced lunch. However, there are concerns: 4th grade math proficiency dropped sharply from 45.2% to 29.0%, falling well below both district and state averages, and 6th grade ELA declined from 86.7% to 58.6%. Third grade saw strong improvement in both ELA and math. These year-over-year swings warrant attention but do not diminish the school's overall standing as a high-achieving elementary school in Mississippi.
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