Best Elementary Schools in Zip Code 38804

Zip code 38804 in Tupelo, Mississippi, is home to three elementary schools—Lawhon Elementary School, Joyner Elementary School, and Carver Elementary School—which together enroll 1,331 students and belong to the Tupelo Public School District. The schools operate as a grade-band feeder system: Carver serves grades K–1, Joyner serves K–2, and Lawhon serves grades 2–5. All three serve predominantly low-income families, with free/reduced lunch rates ranging from about 72% to 75%, so economic disadvantage is a shared characteristic across the area.

Among the three schools, Lawhon is the largest (575 students) and the only one with recent state test scores and rankings, since it alone serves the tested grades (3–5). Lawhon ranks 191 out of 377 schools statewide (49th percentile) and shows a clear strength in science: 75.2% of its 5th graders were proficient, beating both district and state averages. However, Lawhon also has the highest chronic absenteeism rate at 28.5%. Joyner, by contrast, stands out for attendance, with an 18.3% chronic absenteeism rate that is far better than the district (29.3%), the state (23.9%), and its local peers. Carver is the smallest (312 students) and offers the lowest student/teacher ratio at 13.5, though it has the highest poverty rate at 75.32%. Carver's only historical ranking dates to 2008–2009, when it earned a 4-star rating.

Academically, Lawhon presents a mixed picture. In 2025–2026, its 4th-grade math proficiency surged to 56.6%—10.8 points above the district and 5.1 points above the state—and its 5th-grade math also exceeded both averages. On the other hand, 3rd-grade math dropped sharply to 37.7%, and 5th-grade ELA remains a concern at 45.9%, roughly 10 points below the state. Science is Lawhon's most consistent strength, improving from 68.6% to 75.2% year over year. Because these schools form a connected pipeline, parents should view Joyner and Carver as the early-grade foundation and Lawhon as the tested-grade accountability hub. Overall, the area offers strong science and upper-grade math performance, but attendance and reading proficiency are the key challenges to monitor.