Best Public Schools in Zip Code 39056

Zip code 39056 in Clinton, MS—a suburb in the Jackson metro area—is served by 7 schools in the Clinton Public School District, enrolling roughly 5,148 students in grades PK–12 across elementary, middle, high, and alternative campuses. The district uses an unusual grade-span configuration—PK–1, 2–3, 4–5, 6, 7–8, 9 (alternative), and 10–12—meaning students transition between campuses several times before high school. Overall, this is a high-performing district: about 45% of students qualify for free/reduced lunch, the average student-teacher ratio is a favorable 14.9:1, and proficiency rates in elementary and middle school are far above state averages.

The standouts are Clinton Junior High School and Eastside Elementary School. Clinton Junior High ranks 5th out of 260 Mississippi middle schools (top 2%) with a 5-star rating and 100% proficiency in Algebra I, while its 8th-grade math proficiency is 83.7% versus 51.4% statewide. Eastside Elementary ranks 9th out of 377 elementary schools (top 2%), also earning 5 stars, with 5th-grade science proficiency at 90.8% and the district's lowest chronic absenteeism rate at 9.5%. By contrast, Clinton High School is the relative weak link: it earns 4 stars and a solid 92.7% graduation rate, but its rank slipped from 33rd to 58th, and its Algebra I (37.0%) and Biology (27.8%) proficiency rates fall far below state averages, even though English II remains above average.

Several patterns stand out. Chronic absenteeism rises with grade level: elementary schools range from 9.5% to 14.1%, while Clinton Junior High (21.0%) and Clinton High School (20.3%) are the highest—though every school is below the state average of 23.9%. Sumner Hill Junior High School, the alternative 9th-grade campus, posts strong Algebra I (71.9%) and Biology (75.6%) scores despite a 9.1% graduation rate that reflects its at-risk mission. Lovett Elementary School and Northside Elementary School also shine in math, with 6th-grade proficiency at 82.8% and 3rd-grade at 76.4%, respectively. The advanced math pathway helps explain the high school's low Algebra I scores—many students test earlier at Clinton Junior High—but the low Biology scores and declining high school rank remain worth monitoring.