Best Elementary Schools in Zip Code 39073

Zip code 39073 (Florence, MS) is home to three public elementary schools in the Rankin County School District, serving grades PK through 6 with a combined enrollment of about 1,623 students. The three schools form a clear pipeline: Steens Creek Elementary (PK–2) feeds into Florence Elementary (3–5), while McLaurin Elementary (PK–6) serves a separate, higher-need attendance zone. Steens Creek and Florence share nearly identical free/reduced lunch rates (48.45% vs. 48.23%), confirming their feeder relationship, while McLaurin’s poverty rate is much higher at 75.2%.

Florence Elementary is the clear academic standout—it ranks #5 in Mississippi (99th percentile) for 2025–2026 and has earned 5 stars for three straight years, outperforming both district and state averages in every subject and grade. Its chronic absenteeism rate of 9.5% is the lowest in the group. McLaurin Elementary, despite having the highest poverty rate and the highest chronic absenteeism (19.5%), has improved dramatically from the 68th to the 86th percentile in two years and still ranks in the top quartile statewide, aided by the lowest student–teacher ratio (12.7). Steens Creek has no test scores since it ends at grade 2, but its absenteeism rate (13.7%) matches the district average and is higher than Florence’s, making it a school to watch for early intervention.

The biggest takeaway for parents: within the same district and zip code, poverty and attendance create significant achievement gaps—Florence beats McLaurin in every comparable subject, with the widest gaps in early-grade math and reading. Yet McLaurin’s rapid improvement shows that targeted support can overcome obstacles, as evidenced by its 30-point jump in 5th-grade math proficiency from 47.4% to 77.4% in one year. Florence remains an elite option with top-5 state rankings and remarkable 5th-grade science proficiency (92.9%), while Steens Creek provides a strong early foundation. All three schools outperform state averages in most areas, making this zip code a solid choice within Mississippi’s 4-star Rankin County district.