Best Elementary Schools in Zip Code 39307

There are two elementary schools in zip code 39307 serving grades PK–5 in Meridian, Mississippi—Carver Elementary School and West Hills Elementary—both part of the Meridian Public Schools district and both serving student bodies where 100% of students qualify for free or reduced lunch. Despite these similar demographics, the two schools have very different outcomes, making this an important area for parents to compare options.

West Hills Elementary is the clear standout, ranking 257 out of 377 Mississippi elementary schools with a 2-star rating, while Carver Elementary School ranks 351 out of 377 with 0 stars. West Hills also has a much lower chronic absenteeism rate at 16.9% compared to Carver's 28.1%—and notably better than the state average of 23.9%. West Hills' 5th grade is a bright spot, exceeding state averages in ELA (62.3% vs. 55.8%) and Science (81.2% vs. 71.5%). Carver, however, is improving rapidly, with its 5th grade science proficiency jumping from 35.8% to 54.4% in a single year, though it remains well below state averages.

Both schools show concerningly low early-grade math proficiency—just 14.5% and 24.4% in 3rd grade at Carver Elementary School and West Hills Elementary respectively, compared to the state average of 48.8%. The strong correlation between attendance and performance is evident in this pair: West Hills has both the better attendance and the better results. While Meridian Public Schools ranks in the bottom 10% of districts, West Hills demonstrates that meaningful progress is achievable even in challenging circumstances, though volatility across grade levels suggests strong results are not yet consistent schoolwide.