Summary:
In zip code 39040, there is one elementary school, Bentonia Gibbs School, serving grades PK through 5 in the Yazoo County School District, an area with a predominantly high-poverty student population. This school, located in Bentonia, MS, is the sole elementary option in the ZIP code, so the entire analysis centers on its performance, strengths, and areas for growth.
Bentonia Gibbs School stands out for several positive reasons despite its challenges. Nearly all students (99.21%) are eligible for free/reduced lunch, yet chronic absenteeism at 20.8% is better than both the district's 31.7% and the state's 23.9%, showing strong student attendance. The school also excels in 5th grade science, where 69.1% of students are proficient, nearly matching the state average of 71.5% and beating the district's 67.3% in the current year. Additionally, the student-teacher ratio of 12.3 indicates smaller class sizes, an advantage in a high-need school. These positives provide a solid foundation for continued improvement.
However, academic performance in math and English Language Arts (ELA) remains a concern. In the current year, Bentonia Gibbs trails the state in every subject, with the largest gap in 5th grade math (28.5% proficient vs. 49.6% statewide, a 21.1-point deficit). ELA gaps range from 8 to 13 points below state averages. The school also shows significant year-to-year swings in math scores, such as 3rd grade jumping from 21.1% to 44.7% while 4th grade dropped from 61.5% to 37.7%, suggesting different cohorts have very different needs. Its state ranking has consistently placed it in the bottom third (33rd percentile), earning a 2-star rating each year. Parents should know the school is working from a place of high poverty and volatile test scores but offers bright spots in science and attendance that can be built upon.
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