Summary:
In zip code 39652, there is one elementary school: Eva Gordon Lower Elementary School, which serves grades PK-3 in Magnolia, Mississippi. As the only elementary school in the area, it serves as the primary option for families seeking early education. The school is part of the South Pike School District and enrolls 345 students. Notably, 100% of its students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, indicating a highly economically disadvantaged population. Despite this challenge, the school maintains a favorable student-to-teacher ratio of 14.2, which may allow for more individualized instruction in early grades.
Eva Gordon Lower Elementary School has shown significant long-term improvement in its state ranking. In 2015-16, it ranked in the 6th percentile statewide with zero stars. By 2022-23, it climbed to the 33rd percentile and earned two stars. Recent test scores show a mixed picture. In Grade 3 English Language Arts, proficiency jumped from 36.9% in 2024-25 to 45.6% in 2025-26, an 8.7-point gain. However, math proficiency dropped from 50.0% to 42.9% over the same period. The school still trails state averages in both subjects, with ELA 2.9 points below and math 5.9 points below the state in 2025-26.
Chronic absenteeism at the school is 22.8%, which is lower than the state rate of 23.9% but higher than the district rate of 20.1%. This means nearly one in four students misses a significant number of school days. Given the high poverty context, this remains a risk factor, though the school's upward trajectory in state rankings is promising. With a low student-teacher ratio and demonstrated ability to improve, Eva Gordon Lower Elementary School is a school worth watching. For parents, the school offers a supportive environment that has made real progress over the years, even as it continues to work toward closing the gap with statewide performance.
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