Best Public Schools in Zip Code 39153

Zip code 39153, serving the town of Raleigh, Mississippi, contains just two schools—Raleigh Elementary School (grades PK–6, 649 students) and Raleigh High School (grades 7–12, 486 students)—both part of the Smith County School District, with a combined enrollment of 1,135 students. The two schools share the same district but have very different profiles: the elementary school stands out for low chronic absenteeism (11.3% vs. the state’s 23.9%) and strong 6th-grade math proficiency (67% vs. 52.7% statewide), while the high school boasts a stellar 96.5% graduation rate, far above the district (85.2%) and state (89.2%). However, both schools have seen their state rankings slide sharply over the past three years—Raleigh Elementary fell from the 68th to 45th percentile, and Raleigh High plummeted from the 74th to 37th percentile, dropping from a 4-star to a 2-star rating.

Looking closer at recent test scores, math and science are clear bright spots at both schools. Raleigh Elementary posts above-state results in 5th-grade science and especially 6th-grade math, while Raleigh High outperforms the state in 8th-grade math and science. In contrast, ELA is the biggest struggle: 3rd-grade ELA at the elementary school sits at 35.4% proficient (13.1 points below state), and 7th-grade ELA at the high school is just 24.0% proficient (12.7 points below state). From 2024–25 to 2025–26, several ELA and end-of-course exams dropped by 10–18 points, including a dramatic 18.1-point fall in 3rd-grade ELA. Meanwhile, attendance patterns diverge strongly within the same district—chronic absenteeism is nearly twice as high at the high school (20.8%) than at the elementary school (11.3%), even though both schools serve similar populations, with roughly 7 in 10 students qualifying for free/reduced lunch.

For parents, the key takeaway is that these schools are a mixed bag: they offer excellent graduation outcomes, low elementary absenteeism, and above-average math and science instruction, yet they are facing concerning declines in overall rankings and a persistent literacy gap that affects early elementary and middle school students alike. Because Raleigh High serves grades 7–12, younger secondary students are on a high school campus, which may influence attendance and academic support. With high poverty levels but several pockets of strong performance, the district’s greatest opportunity lies in boosting reading and writing across grades 3, 7, and 8, while building on the math and science strengths that are already working.