Schools in Zip Code 38916

Zip code 38916 in Calhoun City, Mississippi, contains two schools—Calhoun City High School (grades 5–12, 379 students) and Calhoun City Elementary (PK–4, 235 students)—both part of the Calhoun County School District, which ranks 57th out of 134 districts in the state. These are small, high-poverty schools serving a rural community, with free/reduced lunch eligibility at 81.5% at the high school and 91.5% at the elementary.

Compared side by side, the two schools tell very different stories. Calhoun City High School jumped from the 16th to the 43rd percentile in state rankings between 2024–2025 and 2025–2026, moving from a 1-star to a 2-star rating. It shows real strength in Algebra I (62.8% proficient), 8th grade science (61.3%), and biology (78.6% proficient the previous year). However, literacy is a major weakness: English II proficiency was just 40.7% in 2025–2026, and middle-school ELA scores ranged from 31.8% to 39.5%. Chronic absenteeism of 25.3% and an 86.3% graduation rate are concerns. Calhoun City Elementary, in contrast, had much better attendance at 13.6% chronic absenteeism, but its academics slipped in 2025–2026. After a strong 2024–2025, when 4th grade ELA hit 55.3%, every subject dropped, with 3rd grade math falling from 50.0% to 37.1% and 3rd grade ELA at just 31.4%.

For parents, the key takeaway is that neither school outperforms the state overall; the high school is closer to district and state benchmarks, especially in math and science, while literacy is the biggest weakness at both schools. The elementary school's declining scores suggest early-grade interventions may be losing momentum despite strong attendance. On a positive note, the high school's one-year ranking improvement shows meaningful progress is possible in a high-poverty rural setting. Parents should watch reading support and attendance closely, as these are the areas most likely to drive future gains.