Schools in Zip Code 38957

ZIP code 38957 contains a single school, R.H. Bearden Elementary, a K-6 campus in the rural community of West Sumner serving 251 students as part of the West Tallahatchie School District. Because it is the only school in the ZIP code, there is no middle or high school here — families must look outside the area for secondary education. The school serves a very high-poverty population, with 98.8% of students eligible for free or reduced lunch, and operates with a student-teacher ratio of 20.9.

Despite those challenges, R.H. Bearden Elementary is on a clear upward trajectory. Its state ranking has climbed from 344th out of 390 schools (12th percentile) in 2023–24 to 256th out of 377 (32nd percentile) in 2025–26, earning a 2-star rating after two years at 1 star. The school also posts a chronic absenteeism rate of 20.9% — well below the district's 31.8% and the state's 23.9%. Its strongest academic area is 6th-grade math, where 74.2% of students are proficient, beating the state average of 52.7% by more than 21 points.

Year-over-year results show improvement in 7 of 9 tested grade-subject combinations. The largest gains came in 3rd-grade math (+17.2 points), 5th-grade ELA (+15.3), 5th-grade science (+12.0), and 4th-grade ELA (+10.0). However, all ELA proficiency rates remain 11 to 22 points below Mississippi averages, and 5th-grade science — while improving — still trails the state by 24.2 points. In short, R.H. Bearden Elementary is a high-poverty school making meaningful progress and exceeding expectations in several areas, particularly upper-elementary math, though reading and science remain key growth areas.