Summary:
Zip code 39056 in Clinton, Mississippi, is served by two middle-level schools within the Clinton Public School District: Clinton Junior High School (grades 7-8, 862 students) and Lovett Elementary School (grade 6, 375 students), which together form a three-year middle school pathway serving 1,237 students. Both schools serve a similar economic profile, with roughly 44-46% of students qualifying for free/reduced-price lunch.
Clinton Junior High School is the clear academic standout, ranking 5th out of 260 Mississippi middle schools for 2025-2026 with a 5-star rating. Its performance is exceptional: 100% of Algebra I students scored proficient, compared to 66.0% statewide, and 8th-grade math proficiency reached 83.7% versus 51.4% statewide. Lovett Elementary School provides a strong 6th-grade foundation, with 82.8% math proficiency and 66.0% ELA proficiency, both well above state averages of 52.7% and 48.0%. Interestingly, Lovett's 6th-grade ELA proficiency is actually higher than Clinton Junior High's 7th-grade (55.9%) and 8th-grade (59.5%) ELA scores, suggesting a possible transition dip.
Notable differences emerge in attendance. Lovett's chronic absenteeism is just 13.6%, far below the district average of 16.2% and the state average of 23.9%, while Clinton Junior High's rate is 21.0% despite its elite academic ranking. Lovett also posted the most dramatic improvement, jumping 11 points in 6th-grade math from 71.8% to 82.8% in one year. Math proficiency follows a U-shaped pattern: 82.8% in 6th grade, dipping to 73.9% in 7th grade, then rebounding to 83.7% in 8th grade. Because school-level and district-level scores are nearly identical, these two schools are effectively the sole providers of middle-level education in the district, creating a cohesive feeder system that produces well-above-average outcomes across every subject.
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