Summary:
Zip code 39654 in Monticello, Mississippi, is served by a single public high school, Lawrence County High School, which enrolls 529 students in grades 9–12 and is part of the Lawrence County School District.
Lawrence County High School faces significant challenges. It ranks in the bottom fifth of Mississippi high schools (19th percentile for 2025–2026), down from the 28th percentile the prior year. Chronic absenteeism is a major concern, with 46.5% of students chronically absent—nearly double the state rate of 23.9% and well above the district's 30.4%. The graduation rate of 81.2% is below the state average of 89.2%, though slightly better than the district average of 80.6%. On state end-of-course tests, the school trails Mississippi averages in every subject. In 2025–2026, Algebra I proficiency reached 50.0% (state: 66.0%), Biology reached 42.2% (state: 63.1%), and English II slipped to 35.9% (state: 49.3%). There is one encouraging sign: Algebra I proficiency jumped by 17.9 percentage points in a single year, suggesting possible progress in math instruction. Still, the school's overall academic performance remains well below state norms.
About two-thirds of students (66.73%) qualify for free/reduced lunch, indicating high economic need. The student-teacher ratio is favorable at 11.9, yet outcomes do not reflect that advantage. Interestingly, the Lawrence County School District ranks near the middle of Mississippi districts (46th percentile, 2 stars), while the high school itself ranks much lower. This suggests the district's other schools may be performing better, making the high school a clear focal point for targeted support. For parents, the key takeaway is that Lawrence County High School is a high-need school with serious absenteeism and academic gaps, though recent gains in Algebra I offer a small sign of hope.
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