Summary:
Zip code 38774 contains just one school — Northside High School in Shelby, Mississippi, a combined middle/high school serving grades 7 through 12 with 370 students, all of whom qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, making it the sole educational institution in the area.
Because Northside High School is the only school in the North Bolivar Consolidated district within this zip code, there are no local schools to compare it against. The most encouraging news is in 7th grade math, where proficiency soared from 24.6% to 57.5% in one year, nearly matching the state average of 57.7%. Algebra I is also a consistent strength, with 61.1% proficiency versus 66.0% statewide. However, other areas are concerning. 8th grade proficiency lags far behind state averages in ELA (23.3% vs. 40.9%), math (26.6% vs. 51.4%), and science (36.7% vs. 57.8%). End-of-course assessments also dropped sharply: Biology fell from 53.9% to 30.0%, and English II fell from 44.4% to 25.8%, leaving the school 33.1 and 23.5 points behind the state, respectively. The school's state ranking reflects these mixed results, dropping from the 41st percentile in 2024-25 to the 15th percentile in 2025-26, despite gains in several tested subjects.
Beyond test scores, Northside High School faces significant challenges. The graduation rate is 73.8%, well below the state's 89.2%, and chronic absenteeism affects 28.2% of students — higher than both the district (18.7%) and state (23.9%). With 100% of students experiencing economic disadvantage, the school operates under difficult conditions. The dramatic improvement in 7th grade math shows real potential, but consistent progress across all grade levels and subject areas will be essential to improve graduation rates, reduce absenteeism, and reverse the recent decline in the school's state ranking.
Thank you for your feedback!