Best Elementary Schools in Zip Code 38801

There are 5 elementary schools in zip code 38801 (Tupelo, MS), all part of the Tupelo Public School District, and they are split into a two-tier feeder pattern with K–2 schools (Parkway Elementary School and Thomas Street Elementary School) and 3–5 schools (Lawndale Elementary School, Rankin Elementary School, and Pierce Street Elementary School).

Among the tested 3–5 schools, Rankin Elementary School is the standout right now: it holds the best 2025-2026 state rank (171st, 3 stars), has the lowest chronic absenteeism at 15.2%, and posts outstanding 5th-grade science scores (81.1% proficient). Lawndale Elementary School showed the highest peak of any school with a 2024-2025 rank of 142nd, but it dropped 89 places to 231st in 2025-2026, making it the most volatile. Pierce Street Elementary School is the biggest concern: it has the lowest current ranking, the highest chronic absenteeism (26.2%), and 3rd-grade math proficiency of just 31.5% even though it has the smallest class sizes. For K–2 schools, Parkway Elementary School is the largest (418 students) with solid attendance, while Thomas Street Elementary School shows early warning signs with 24.8% chronic absenteeism.

District-wide, math is the clearest weakness: 8 of 9 grade-level math scores fell below the state average in 2025-2026, and all three tested schools saw math proficiency drop from the prior year, with Lawndale falling 18.5 points. Science is a relative strength, especially at Rankin. Chronic absenteeism correlates with performance, but not perfectly—Lawndale has low absenteeism yet still saw a sharp decline. Notably, high poverty does not prevent success: Lawndale and Rankin have the highest free/reduced lunch rates but outperform Pierce, which has the lowest poverty rate. Overall, Rankin is the most stable high performer, while Pierce and Thomas Street need targeted support for attendance and early math foundations.