Summary:
Schools in zip code 38859 (New Site, Mississippi) comprise a single high school, New Site High School, serving grades 9–12. As the only school in the area, it automatically stands out, but it also earns distinction on its own merits: rated 5 stars and ranked 13th out of 224 Mississippi high schools for the 2025–2026 school year (94th percentile), with consistent top-tier performance in the two prior years (ranked 25th and 16th). The school belongs to the Prentiss County School District, which itself ranks 24th out of 134 districts in the state.
New Site High School enrolls 239 students with a favorable 10.2:1 student-teacher ratio. About 68.2% of students qualify for free or reduced lunch, reflecting a predominantly economically disadvantaged population, yet academic outcomes are strong. On the 2025–2026 MAAP end-of-course exams, proficiency rates were 78.4% in Algebra I, 70.9% in English II, and 90.9% in Biology—all well above state averages (66.0%, 49.3%, and 63.1%, respectively). The graduation rate is 88.2%, slightly below the district (90.6%) and state (89.2%), while chronic absenteeism stands at 19.6%—better than the state rate of 23.9% but notably higher than the district's 14.5%.
The standout subject is clearly Biology, with proficiency rates above 90% in both reported years, far exceeding statewide performance by roughly 28 to 31 percentage points. However, Algebra I proficiency dropped sharply from 93.1% in 2024–2025 to 78.4% in 2025–2026, a significant decline worth monitoring. On a positive note, English II improved from 62.5% to 70.9%, though it remains the school's weakest subject. While New Site High School demonstrates that high achievement is possible amid economic challenges, the gaps in graduation rate and chronic absenteeism relative to the district suggest areas for continued focus. Overall, this small rural high school delivers exceptional academic results, especially in science, and offers a supportive learning environment through small class sizes.
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