Summary:
Zip code 39702 in Columbus, Mississippi contains 3 elementary schools serving grades PK-5, enrolling roughly 1,725 students across two very different school districts: Lowndes County School District, ranked 53rd of 134 districts in the state, and Columbus Municipal School District, ranked 122nd. New Hope Elementary is the largest school with 1,191 students, while Sale Elementary School (290 students) and Fairview Elementary School (244 students) are much smaller.
New Hope Elementary is the clear academic standout, earning a 3-star rating and ranking in the 55th percentile statewide, while Sale Elementary School and Fairview Elementary School both hold 1-star ratings in the bottom 10th-11th percentile. New Hope's average MAAP proficiency sits in the low-to-mid 50s, compared to the 20s-30s range at Sale and Fairview. New Hope also serves a lower percentage of low-income students (66.75% free/reduced lunch) than Sale (100%) or Fairview (99.59%), though all three serve majority-low-income populations.
Despite the gaps, there are standout details worth noting. Both New Hope and Sale have excellent attendance, with chronic absenteeism around 10.8-10.9%, far below the state average of 23.9%. Sale also posted a strong 5th grade science proficiency of 62.5% in 2024-25, nearly matching the state figure. Fairview, however, shows large year-to-year swings in test scores — its 4th grade math dropped from 50% to 23.5% in one year — a reminder that with only about 250 students, a single cohort can dramatically shift results. For parents, the biggest takeaway is that the zip code offers two very different academic environments: New Hope provides stable mid-tier performance with a math weakness, while Sale and Fairview represent high-poverty schools facing significant challenges, though each has pockets of strength to build on.
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