Schools in Zip Code 39735

Zip code 39735 in Ackerman, Mississippi, is served by two public schools in the Choctaw County Schools district—Ackerman Elementary (grades PK–6, 462 students) and Choctaw County High School (grades 7–12, 511 students)—together educating nearly 1,000 students in a rural, high-poverty community where more than 99% of students at both schools qualify for free or reduced-price lunch. The district overall earns a 4-star rating, ranking 36th out of 134 districts in Mississippi.

The clear standout is Ackerman Elementary, which has earned a 5-star rating for three consecutive years and ranked as high as #5 in the entire state in 2024–2025. Despite 99.35% of students qualifying for free/reduced lunch, the school outperforms state averages in nearly every subject and grade, with 6th grade math proficiency reaching 94.5% in 2024–2025 and 88.9% in 2025–2026, compared to state averages near 53%. Chronic absenteeism is just 9.8%, far below the state average. Choctaw County High School, by contrast, is a 2-to-3-star school ranking near or below the middle of Mississippi high schools. It does post a strong 92.9% graduation rate (above the state's 89.2%) and some subject-area bright spots like 7th grade math at 70.6% proficiency, but it lags behind state averages in Algebra I, Biology, and most end-of-course exams.

The two schools serve nearly identical poverty levels, making the achievement gap especially striking and pointing to school-level factors rather than family income. Chronic absenteeism at the high school is 23.7%—nearly triple the elementary school's rate and right at the state average—likely contributing to weaker performance. Math proficiency also drops sharply from 7th grade (70.6%) to 8th grade (43%) and Algebra I (42.9% versus 66% statewide), suggesting a difficult transition to advanced coursework. In short, this zip code offers an elite elementary school and a mid-to-low performing high school with a solid graduation rate. If the high school can replicate the engagement and achievement culture of Ackerman Elementary, the entire district could become a statewide leader.