Best High Schools in Zip Code 39204

Zip code 39204 contains one high school, Jim Hill High School, a public school serving grades 9–12 in Jackson, Mississippi, with 975 students and an extremely high poverty rate (99.9% free/reduced lunch). Part of Jackson Public Schools, a district ranking 112 out of 134 statewide, Jim Hill stands out as the only high school in the area and posts a graduation rate of 86.5% — above the district’s 83.7% but below the state’s 89.2%. Chronic absenteeism affects 27.4% of students, which is better than the district (30.1%) but worse than the state (23.9%), meaning roughly one in four students is chronically absent.

Academic proficiency is mixed and generally low compared to state averages. In the most recent 2025–2026 school year, only 36.7% of students were proficient in Algebra I (vs. 66.0% statewide), 21.0% in English II (vs. 49.3%), and 35.9% in Biology (vs. 63.1%). The school’s state ranking fell sharply to the 4th percentile in 2025–2026, down from the 19th percentile the prior two years. This aligns with large drops in Algebra I and English II proficiency from 2024–2025 to 2025–2026 — down 19.9 and 11.9 percentage points respectively — while Biology improved by 4.6 points. Notably, in 2024–2025 Jim Hill outperformed its district in Algebra I by nearly 12 points, but the following year fell 6 points below the district, suggesting possible cohort or curriculum shifts.

For parents, Jim Hill is a high-poverty school facing significant academic challenges, especially in English II where nearly 4 out of 5 students are not proficient. However, its graduation rate is a relative bright spot, exceeding the district average, and past Algebra I performance showed the school can exceed district-level results despite economic disadvantage. Given that the entire Jackson Public Schools district struggles relative to the state, Jim Hill’s performance should be viewed through that systemic context. The school offers a traditional high school environment with a student-teacher ratio of 11.4, but the dramatic recent decline in state ranking and core subject proficiency are important concerns for any family considering this zoned school.