Summary:
Zip code 39322 in the Buckatunna, Mississippi area contains exactly one public elementary school: Buckatunna School, a PK-8 campus in the Wayne County School District serving 418 students.
Because this is the only school in the zip code, it represents the sole local option for families. Buckatunna School is a high-poverty campus, with 99.28% of students eligible for free/reduced lunch, yet it posts a remarkably low chronic absenteeism rate of 11.8%—far below the district's 17.1% and less than half the state's 23.9%. The school has held a consistent 2-star state rating over the last three years, ranking in the 36th–42nd percentile among Mississippi schools. Academically, it outperforms its own district in most grade-by-grade subject comparisons (10 of 14 in 2025-2026 and 9 of 14 in 2024-2025), but it generally trails state averages, especially in mathematics. For example, average math proficiency in 2025-2026 was 37.8% versus 52.0% statewide, a gap of more than 14 points.
There are notable bright spots. Seventh grade math is a consistent strength, with proficiency at 60.0% in 2024-2025 and 57.1% in 2025-2026, near or above state averages both years. Fifth grade science reached 72.1% in 2024-2025, well above the state's 66.3%. English language arts improved markedly in the most recent year, rising from 37.0% to 45.2% proficiency, with large gains in grades 3, 4, 6, and 7. However, math declined across nearly all grade levels between the two reported years, and third grade remains a weak spot—only 27.0% proficient in math and 37.8% in ELA in 2025-2026. Families in this area should know that while Buckatunna School faces significant poverty-related challenges, its strong attendance and occasional subject-area excellence indicate a school that can achieve solid results, particularly in middle school math and upper-elementary science.
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