Summary:
In zip code 39305 (Meridian, Mississippi), four elementary schools serve a combined 2,260 students across grades PK-5, split between two very different districts: Lauderdale County School District (a 4-star district ranked 18th in the state) and Meridian Public Schools (a 1-star district ranked 120th).
If you live in this zip code, West Lauderdale Elementary School is the clear academic standout. It ranks in the 78th percentile statewide, has improved every year, and is the only school here that beats state averages in every subject and grade tested. Its 4th-grade math proficiency of 71.3% is exceptional. On the other end, Parkview Elementary is the most challenged: 0 stars, 9th percentile, and 3rd-grade math proficiency at just 13.5%. Poplar Springs Elementary also sits near the bottom academically, but stands out for its strong attendance (13.3% chronic absenteeism) despite 100% poverty. Northeast Elementary is the most puzzling: it’s in the strong county district, yet its state ranking has fallen from 231st to 277th, and its math/ELA proficiency dropped 8 points in one year.
The two districts are drastically different. West Lauderdale (46% poverty) and Northeast (78% poverty) share the same district, but West ranks 195 places higher in the state—proving that within-district gaps can be massive. Meanwhile, the two 100% poverty schools in Meridian Public Schools are both low-performing, but Poplar Springs’ low absenteeism vs. Parkview’s 30.7% rate shows that high poverty doesn’t have to mean high absenteeism. The most urgent red flags are early-grade math, especially at Parkview and Northeast, where 3rd-grade proficiency is alarmingly low. The one bright spot: both Meridian schools show relative strength in 5th-grade science, so the story isn’t uniformly bleak. Overall, this zip code is educationally divided—West Lauderdale is a rising star, while the other three schools are stuck or slipping.
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