Best Elementary Schools in Zip Code 39645

In zip code 39645, there is just one elementary school, Amite County Elementary, which serves grades K–6 and enrolls 486 students in the Amite County School District. This small, rural district is ranked 73rd out of 134 Mississippi districts, and because this is the only elementary school in the area, its performance essentially defines the district’s elementary-level reputation. The school serves a 100% free/reduced-price lunch population, and its student-to-teacher ratio of 12.8:1 is relatively favorable, suggesting smaller class sizes despite the high level of economic need.

Amite County Elementary has earned a consistent 3-star rating from the state, ranking in the 51st–54th percentile over the past three years. That stability, however, masks important subject-level differences. In the most recent year, the school’s math average was 52.9% proficient, slightly above the state’s 50.7%, with especially strong results in 4th and 5th grade math, where it outpaced the state by 8.2 and 12.0 points respectively. Science in 5th grade was also a bright spot at 76.9% proficient, above the state’s 71.5%. English Language Arts is a bigger concern, with an overall average of 43.5% versus the state’s 51.2%. The largest gaps were in 3rd grade ELA, which was 19.1 points below the state, and 6th grade ELA, which was 10.9 points below.

For parents, the most important takeaways are that this school has notable strengths in math and science, particularly in upper elementary grades, but faces real challenges in early-grade literacy. The 3rd grade math proficiency dropped sharply from 57.7% to 38.8% year-over-year, and ELA in 3rd grade also slipped to 29.4%, signaling a need for targeted early-elementary intervention. Chronic absenteeism is another red flag: 34.8% of students were chronically absent, compared to the state average of 23.9%, a gap of nearly 11 points. Since the entire student body qualifies for free or reduced-price lunch, poverty-related obstacles are likely affecting attendance and learning. Despite these challenges, the school’s stable mid-range ranking and strong upper-grade performance offer a solid foundation to build on.