Best High Schools in Zip Code 39355

Zip code 39355 in Mississippi is served by a single high school, Quitman High School, which enrolls 437 students in grades 9–12 as part of the Quitman School District. The district is ranked 91 out of 134 districts in Mississippi, placing it in the 32nd percentile with a 2-star rating from SchoolDigger. Because it is the only high school in the area, Quitman High School's performance directly shapes the district's academic profile and provides the clearest picture of secondary education in this region.

Quitman High School stands out for its strong graduation rate of 95.6%, which is 6.4 percentage points above the Mississippi state average of 89.2%. However, that success is tempered by significant challenges. The school's chronic absenteeism rate of 46.5% is nearly double the state average of 23.9%, meaning roughly one in two students is missing substantial instructional time. Academically, the school trails state averages across all tested subjects. English II proficiency is the weakest area at 33.8% compared to 49.3% statewide, a gap of 15.5 points. Algebra I proficiency is 59.1% versus 66.0% statewide, and Biology proficiency is 59.4% versus 63.1%. The student-teacher ratio is a relatively high 26.9-to-1, which may limit individualized attention.

The school's state ranking has fluctuated over the past three years, dropping to the 20th percentile with a 1-star rating in 2024–2025 before rebounding to the 33rd percentile with 2 stars in 2025–2026. Encouraging trends include a 6.6-point gain in Biology proficiency and a 4.6-point improvement in English II. However, Algebra I proficiency declined by 4.0 points, moving further below the state average. With chronic absenteeism far exceeding both district and state averages and literacy scores lagging significantly, the school's most urgent priorities should be improving attendance and strengthening reading and writing support. While the graduation rate is a clear strength, sustained instructional interventions are needed to close the academic gaps that persist across most subjects.