Summary:
In zip code 39157 (Ridgeland, MS), there are two elementary schools—Ann E. Smith Elementary and Highland Elementary School—that together serve grades PK–5 as part of the Madison County Schools district, which is ranked 20th out of 134 districts in Mississippi (4 stars).
These two schools function as a single elementary pipeline: Ann E. Smith serves the youngest students (PK–2) with a larger enrollment of 715, while Highland serves grades 3–5 with 629 students. Because state testing begins in 3rd grade, only Highland has test-score and ranking data. Ann E. Smith has a higher student-teacher ratio (15.0 vs. 13.4) and a slightly higher chronic absenteeism rate (17.3% vs. 16.0%), though both schools beat district (20.4%) and state (23.9%) averages. Economic disadvantage is high at both schools, with 76.9% of Ann E. Smith students and 79.0% of Highland students qualifying for free/reduced lunch. Parents should know that despite high poverty, attendance at both schools is comparatively strong, and together they offer a full elementary experience before students move on to middle school.
Academically, Highland is the benchmark for the area, but its performance reveals a significant gap from its district. In the most recent year, Highland’s combined ELA/math proficiency was about 48.7%, well below the district’s ~68.0% and slightly below the state’s ~51.1%. Math is the clear weak spot—4th grade math proficiency was just 38.4% vs. the district’s 64.5%—while 5th grade science (66.8%) was relatively stronger. Highland’s statewide rank has stayed flat around the 49th percentile over three years, with its star rating slipping from 3 to 2. For parents, this means Ann E. Smith offers solid early-elementary foundations and strong attendance, while Highland provides the only test data in the area and shows that despite belonging to a top-tier district, the school itself faces notable academic challenges, especially in math.
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