Summary:
In zip code 39577 (Wiggins, MS), there is exactly one elementary school, Stone Elementary School, serving grades K-5 within the highly ranked Stone County School District. Despite nearly 68% of its 714 students qualifying for free/reduced lunch, Stone Elementary consistently ranks as one of Mississippi's top elementary schools, earning a 4-star rating and ranking in the 75th percentile statewide (96th out of 377) for the 2025-2026 school year.
Academically, Stone Elementary outperforms the state average in 6 of 7 major subject/grade combinations, with its biggest standout result in 3rd grade math, where 80.7% of students are proficient—roughly 32 points higher than the state average. However, recent year-over-year swings are a concern for parents. Most notably, 4th grade math proficiency collapsed by 27.2 points, dropping from 73.5% to 46.3%, which is now below both the district (58.6%) and state (51.5%) averages. 5th grade ELA also fell 13.1 points, from 72.8% to 59.7%. Because it is the only elementary school in the zip code, families seeking alternatives would need to look outside the immediate 39577 area.
The school's overall state ranking has slipped over the past three years, falling from 27th (93rd percentile) to 96th (75th percentile), mirroring an overall proficiency decline from roughly 69% to 64%. On a positive note, chronic absenteeism sits at 20.7%, which is better than both the district (25.2%) and state (23.9%) rates. The bottom line is that Stone Elementary remains a solid choice academically, but the sharp drops in upper elementary grades—especially the 4th grade math collapse—are red flags. The school will need to focus on stabilizing instruction across all grade levels to reverse its recent downward trend and maintain its standing as a top-tier Mississippi elementary school.
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