Best Public Schools in Zip Code 39067

Zip code 39067 in Ethel, Mississippi, contains exactly one school, Ethel Attendance Center, a combined middle and high school serving grades 7 through 12 with 230 students in Attala County Schools. This small school stands out because nearly all of its students (98.7%) qualify for free or reduced lunch, yet it has earned 5-star ratings in both 2023–2024 and 2024–2025, ranking 11th and 6th statewide, respectively. Its Biology End-of-Course proficiency has been a consistent bright spot at around 89–90%, far above the state average of roughly 62–63%, and the school maintains a very low student–teacher ratio of 8.9, which may allow for more individualized attention.

Test scores show clear strengths in high school-level coursework, but also notable year-to-year swings due to small class sizes. In 2024–2025, Algebra I proficiency was a stunning 93.1% versus a 67.3% state average, and English II hit 69.4% compared to 49.5% statewide. However, in 2025–2026, Algebra I dropped to 65.0%, while Biology stayed strong at 89.6% and 8th grade science jumped to 71.9%. Middle-grade ELA and math are more inconsistent, with 7th grade ELA falling below state averages in the most recent year. The graduation rate (90.7%) sits slightly above the state average (89.2%), but chronic absenteeism is a major concern: 42.6% of students are chronically absent, well above the district’s 31.4% and the state’s 23.9%.

The school’s state ranking dropped from 6th (97th percentile) in 2024–2025 to 51st (77th percentile) in 2025–2026, still within the top quarter of Mississippi high schools, but the decline highlights how sensitive performance is for a school this size. Overall, Ethel Attendance Center is a high-poverty school with impressive outcomes in science and end-of-course exams, yet it struggles with absenteeism and inconsistent middle-grade math and ELA. Families should view this school as one with strong high school programs and dedicated small-class support, but one where middle-grade foundations and attendance deserve close attention.