Summary:
Zip code 39153 is home to just one elementary school: Raleigh Elementary School, a mid-sized PK-6 campus in Raleigh, MS, serving 649 students within the Smith County School District. Nearly 69% of students qualify for free or reduced lunch, yet the school maintains a low chronic absenteeism rate of 11.3%—roughly half the state average—and a healthy student-teacher ratio of 16.6 to 1.
Raleigh Elementary stands out most clearly in upper-grade math and science. In 2025-2026, 6th grade math proficiency reached 67%, surpassing the district (53.9%) and state (52.7%) by double digits, while 5th grade science hit 72.1%, slightly above both the district and state. The school also outperforms its district in 4th grade math (50.0% vs. 47.9%) and 5th grade math (48.1% vs. 43.0%), despite trailing state averages in those areas. These strengths are notable for a school with high economic need, showing that strong attendance and focused instruction can yield competitive results in specific subjects.
However, the school's overall state ranking has slipped from the 68th percentile in 2023-2024 to the 45th percentile in 2025-2026, now holding a 2-star rating. The primary driver is a sharp decline in early-grade English Language Arts: 3rd grade ELA proficiency dropped from 53.5% to 35.4% year-over-year, and all ELA scores in 2025-2026 fall below state averages. Math results were also mixed, with notable drops in 3rd grade (from 48.5% to 39.1%). While 6th grade math and 5th grade science improved, the school's overall performance is now uneven across grades and subjects. For parents, Raleigh Elementary offers excellent attendance and clear bright spots in upper-grade math and science, but the trend signals a need for targeted support in early literacy and foundational math to reverse the downward ranking trajectory.
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