Summary:
Zip code 38856 is served by a single school, Marietta Elementary School, which enrolls 270 students in grades PK through 8 as part of the Prentiss County School District. Because only one school exists in this area, the analysis focuses entirely on Marietta Elementary, a rural school where 67.78% of students qualify for free or reduced lunch, yet academic results remain strong.
Marietta Elementary consistently outperforms state averages in most subjects. For the 2025–2026 school year, average math proficiency was 71.1% versus 52.0% statewide, science was 80.6% versus 64.7%, and ELA was 58.2% versus 47.1%. The school outpaced its district in 11 of 14 reported grade/subject combinations. Mathematics is a clear strength, highlighted by 6th grade math proficiency at 88.9% and 5th grade math at 77.0%. The school also benefits from a favorable 11:1 student–teacher ratio and an impressively low chronic absenteeism rate of 8.9%, compared to 14.5% for the district and 23.9% statewide. These factors contribute to a supportive learning environment even amid economic challenges.
Marietta Elementary has seen its state ranking slip modestly over three years, from 23rd (94th percentile, 5 stars) in 2023–2024 to 68th (82nd percentile, 4 stars) in 2025–2026, yet it remains in the upper fifth of Mississippi elementary schools. Year-to-year swings in grade-level scores, such as an 8th grade math jump from 36.8% to 63.7% and a 4th grade ELA drop from 75.0% to 56.0%, appear tied to small cohort differences rather than systemic issues. Since the school ends at 8th grade, students leaving zip code 38856 transition to high schools elsewhere in the district. Overall, Marietta Elementary is a high-performing, economically diverse school with notable strengths in math and science and a strong record of student attendance.
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