Best Public Schools in Zip Code 39307

ZIP code 39307 in Meridian, Mississippi, includes three schools in the Meridian Public Schools district: two elementary schools (Carver Elementary School and West Hills Elementary) and one middle school (Northwest Middle School). All serve high-poverty communities with 100% free and reduced lunch eligibility, and the district itself ranks 120th out of 134 districts in Mississippi, with schools falling below state proficiency averages in most subjects.

West Hills Elementary is the clear standout, earning 2 stars and ranking in the 32nd percentile statewide. It has the highest average proficiency (~40%), the lowest chronic absenteeism (16.9% vs. the district's 32.8%), and is the only school in the area to beat state averages, with 81.2% proficiency in 5th grade science and 62.3% in 5th grade ELA. Even so, West Hills struggles in 4th grade math, where just 13% are proficient. Carver Elementary School is the largest (506 students) and lowest-performing, with a 0-star rating and 7th percentile state rank, though its average proficiency jumped from roughly 19% to 30% in one year. Northwest Middle School shines in 7th grade math at 45.4% proficiency (up from 26.8%) and has the lowest student-to-teacher ratio at 12.5.

All three schools remain well below state averages in most subjects, and chronic absenteeism appears closely tied to performance: the two lower-performing schools have absenteeism around 28%, while West Hills sits at 16.9%. Every school has improved its state percentile over the past two years, suggesting slow but real momentum. For parents, West Hills proves that strong results are possible even in high-poverty conditions. The district's biggest opportunity may be studying what West Hills does differently—especially around attendance and 5th grade instruction—and applying those lessons to the other two schools.