Summary:
ZIP code 38868 in Shannon, Mississippi, is served by two elementary schools—Shannon Elementary School (grades 3–5, 257 students) and Shannon Primary School (PK–2, 249 students)—both part of the Lee County School District, which ranks 66th out of 134 districts statewide. Both schools serve a high-need population, with 82.88% of Shannon Elementary students and 86.35% of Shannon Primary students qualifying for free/reduced lunch. Despite this poverty, both schools keep class sizes small, with student-teacher ratios of 12.6 and 12.0 respectively.
Shannon Elementary is the standout school in this area because it is the only one with state test data. Its 5th grade science proficiency is excellent at 84%, far above the state average of 71.5%. Chronic absenteeism is also a strength at both schools—13.4% at Shannon Elementary and 16.0% at Shannon Primary, compared to 26.2% districtwide and 23.9% statewide. Shannon Elementary has improved its state ranking from 277 out of 390 (1 star) in 2023-2024 to 254 out of 377 (2 stars) in 2025-2026. Shannon Primary has no ranking because state assessments begin in 3rd grade, but its attendance record remains a positive indicator for early learners.
The biggest challenge is math. At Shannon Elementary, only 19.8% of 4th graders and 24.7% of 5th graders are proficient in math, compared to state averages of 51.5% and 49.6%. English Language Arts is also below state averages in every grade, but the gaps are smaller. Year-over-year trends are mixed: 3rd grade math jumped 14.7 points and 3rd grade ELA rose 11.5 points, but 4th grade math fell 12.7 points. In short, families will find a caring, well-attended school community with strong science instruction, but upper-elementary math support is an area that clearly needs attention.
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