Best Public Schools in Zip Code 38843

ZIP code 38843, serving the Fulton, Mississippi area, contains 3 schools within the Itawamba County school district: two elementary schools and one high school, together educating nearly 1,900 students in grades PK through 12. Itawamba Attendance Center is the largest school and the clear academic leader, earning a 4-star rating and ranking in the 71st percentile of Mississippi elementary/middle schools. Its math achievement is particularly strong, with proficiency rates 15–25 points above the state average in most grade levels. Itawamba Agricultural High School is also a solid performer, ranking in the 85th percentile statewide in 2025–2026, with standout results in Algebra I and Biology, though its chronic absenteeism rate of 24% and graduation rate slightly below the district average are worth noting.

The picture is quite different at Dorsey Attendance Center, the smallest school in the ZIP code, which has fallen to the 28th percentile and carries a 1-star rating. Its reading and math proficiency rates are dramatically below both district and state averages—for example, only 29.6% of its 6th graders are proficient in math versus 75.2% at Itawamba Attendance Center and 52.7% statewide. This 45-point gap between two schools in the same district is striking, especially given that Dorsey actually has the lowest student-to-teacher ratio (11:1) of the three schools. The one bright spot at Dorsey is 5th grade science, where students have outperformed the state average two years running, suggesting a targeted strength in that subject.

All three schools serve majority low-income populations, with free/reduced lunch rates ranging from 59.6% at the high school to 82.0% at Dorsey. That said, economic disadvantage does not automatically predict outcomes: Itawamba Attendance Center achieves excellent results despite a 67.7% poverty rate, while Dorsey struggles academically despite having the smallest class sizes. For parents, the key takeaway is that the district overall is above average (3 stars, 43rd out of 134 districts), but the differences between schools are stark. Itawamba Attendance Center and Itawamba Agricultural High School both offer strong academics, while Dorsey Attendance Center faces significant challenges—though its science program shows what the school can accomplish with the right conditions.