Best Public Schools in Zip Code 39601

Zip code 39601 in Brookhaven, Mississippi, contains Brookhaven High School and 8 other schools serving 4,577 students from pre-kindergarten through 12th grade, split between the Brookhaven School District, the Lincoln County School District, and the specialized statewide Mississippi School Of The Arts. This is a high-poverty area, with eight of nine schools reporting more than 60% of students eligible for free/reduced lunch.

West Lincoln School is the clear academic standout, with a 97.5% graduation rate, the lowest chronic absenteeism (12.4%), and proficiency rates well above state averages in nearly every subject despite a 61% poverty rate. Mississippi School Of The Arts posts a 100% graduation rate with a tiny 8.6 student-teacher ratio, though its 0% Algebra I and Biology scores reflect a very small testing cohort rather than school-wide weakness. Brookhaven Elementary School is on an upward trend, jumping from the 37th to 64th percentile in SchoolDigger rankings. Meanwhile, Brookhaven High School struggles with 29% chronic absenteeism, an 82.8% graduation rate, and EOC scores below state averages.

The most urgent concern is the middle grades. Lipsey Middle School's 5th grade math proficiency is 23.1% versus the state's 49.6%, and Alexander Junior High's 7th and 8th grade ELA scores sit near 25%. Ironically, Alexander posts elite Algebra I scores (92.9% proficient), suggesting only a small advanced cohort takes the test while most students struggle with grade-level standards. Across districts, Lincoln County schools generally outperform Brookhaven district schools, and attendance tracks with achievement. Parents should know that while strong options like West Lincoln exist, the middle grades and Brookhaven High represent the area's biggest challenges.