Schools in Zip Code 38849

ZIP code 38849 contains a single public school, Guntown Middle School, which serves grades 6 through 8 in Guntown, Mississippi, with 674 students enrolled. Part of the Lee County district, this middle-school-only zone means families in the immediate area rely on nearby schools in other ZIP codes for elementary and high school education.

Guntown Middle School is a solid mid-tier school with a consistent 3-star rating, though its state percentile has slipped from the 66th to the 57th over the past two years. The school’s greatest strength is 8th grade science, where 65.5% of students scored proficient in 2025-2026 — well above the state average of 57.8% and slightly above the district’s 64.0%. It also outperforms the Lee County district average in most tested grade and subject combinations, including all three ELA grades, 6th grade math, and 8th grade science. Chronic absenteeism is impressively low at 14.5%, roughly half the district rate of 26.2% and far below the state rate of 23.9%, signaling strong student engagement. With a student-teacher ratio of 12.1:1, class sizes are relatively small, which may support both attendance and science achievement.

However, the most recent year shows concerning declines. Between 2024-2025 and 2025-2026, ELA proficiency fell from 44.9% to 41.2%, and math dropped from 54.8% to 48.6%, with every grade level declining in both subjects. The largest drops were in 8th grade math (-7.1 points) and 6th grade math (-6.3 points), and the school now trails the state in most math categories. Its weakest area is 7th grade ELA at just 35.6% proficient. While the school continues to outperform its district overall and remains strong in science and attendance, reversing the downward trend in math and ELA will be essential to improving its state ranking and maintaining its 3-star status.