Summary:
Zip code 39045 is home to a single high school, Velma Jackson High School, which serves grades 9 through 12 in Camden, Mississippi, and enrolls 224 students as part of the Madison County Schools district. This places Velma Jackson within one of Mississippi's top-rated districts, which holds a 4-star rating and ranks in the 85th percentile statewide, yet the school itself tells a more challenging story.
Velma Jackson's state ranking has fallen sharply in recent years, dropping from the 45th percentile in 2023–2024 to the 23rd percentile in 2025–2026, with its star rating declining from 2 stars to 1. Chronic absenteeism is a major concern: 41.6% of students were chronically absent in 2023–2024, more than double the district's 20.4% and well above the state's 23.9%. The graduation rate of 83.3% trails the district (91.3%) and state (89.2%). At the same time, the school has a very low student–teacher ratio of 6.8, and 90.62% of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, reflecting significant economic need.
Academically, Velma Jackson lags district and state averages in most subjects. In 2025–2026, English II proficiency was just 30.8%, compared to 61.1% districtwide and 49.3% statewide, making it the school's weakest area. Algebra I proficiency dropped from 69% to 55% year over year. Biology improved from 39.4% to 51%, and U.S. History was a relative strength at 64.1% in 2024–2025, though still below district and state marks. The combination of high poverty, high absenteeism, and low test scores shows a school with real challenges, despite favorable class sizes.
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