Summary:
Zip code 39153 in Mississippi is served by a single high school, Raleigh High School, which serves grades 7 through 12 and enrolls 486 students in the Smith County School District. As the only high school in the area, Raleigh High School stands out for its very high graduation rate of 96.5%, far exceeding the district average of 85.2% and the state average of 89.2%. The school serves a predominantly low-income population, with 72.43% of students qualifying for free or reduced lunch, yet it maintains a favorable student–teacher ratio of 12.6, suggesting relatively small class sizes.
Raleigh High School has experienced a significant decline in its state ranking over the past three years, dropping from a 4-star rating (ranked 59th out of 228 schools) in 2023–2024 to a 2-star rating (ranked 141st out of 224 schools) in 2025–2026. The school shows relative strength in mathematics, outperforming the state in 8th grade math (55.3% vs. 51.4%) and 7th grade math in the prior year (65.8% vs. 55.5%). Science is also a bright spot, with 8th grade science proficiency at 61.8% in 2025–2026, above both the district and state averages. However, English Language Arts is the weakest area, with 7th grade ELA proficiency dropping sharply from 39.5% to 24.0%, well below the state average of 36.7%.
Chronic absenteeism at Raleigh High School is 20.8%, better than the state average of 23.9% but worse than the district average of 14.7%. Recent declines in Algebra I (from 69.3% to 57.5%) and Biology (from 63.9% to 54.2%) end-of-course exams have likely contributed to the school's lower ranking. Despite these academic challenges, the school's 96.5% graduation rate suggests it is effective at supporting students to completion. For parents, Raleigh High School offers small class sizes and strong graduation outcomes, but declining test scores—particularly in reading and English—indicate areas that may need attention and support.
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