Top Rankings
Lowndes County School District ranks among the top 20% of public school district in Mississippi for:
Category
Attribute
Overall Rank
Highest overall rank (Top 20%)
Math Proficiency
Highest math proficiency (Top 20%)
Reading/Language Arts Proficiency
Highest reading/language arts proficiency (Top 20%)
Graduation Rate
Highest graduation rate (Top 5%)
Community Size
Largest student body (number of students) (Top 1%)
For the 2026-27 school year, there are 9 public schools serving 5,261 students in Lowndes County School District. This district's average testing ranking is 9/10, which is in the top 20% of public schools in Mississippi.
Public Schools in Lowndes County School District have an average math proficiency score of 65% (versus the Mississippi public school average of 53%), and reading proficiency score of 50% (versus the 42% statewide average).
Minority enrollment is 45% of the student body (majority Black), which is less than the Mississippi public school average of 59% (majority Black).
Overview
This School District
This State (MS)
# Schools
9 Schools
1,028 Schools
# Students
5,261 Students
432,864 Students
# Teachers
406 Teachers
30,920 Teachers
Student-Teacher Ratio
13:1
13:1
Student By Grade
District Rank
Lowndes County School District, which is ranked within the top 20% of all 147 school districts in Mississippi (based off of combined math and reading proficiency testing data) for the 2022-2023 school year.
The school district's graduation rate of 92% has stayed relatively flat over five school years.
Overall District Rank
#18 out of 148 school districts
(Top 20%)
(Top 20%)
Showing 2013–2023. Full 14-year historical data available below ↓
Math Test Scores (% Proficient)
65%
52%
Showing 2013–2023. Full 14-year historical data available below ↓
Reading/Language Arts Test Scores (% Proficient)
50%
42%
Showing 2012–2022. Full 13-year historical data available below ↓
Science Test Scores (% Proficient)
62%
55%
Graduation Rate
92%
89.4%
Showing 2014–2023. Full 13-year historical data available below ↓
Chronically Absent Students
(2022-23)22.1%
26.5%
Students by Ethnicity:
Diversity Score
0.56
0.63
Showing 2014–2023. Full 35-year historical data available below ↓
% American Indian
n/a
1%
% Asian
n/a
1%
% Hispanic
3%
7%
Showing 2014–2023. Full 21-year historical data available below ↓
% Black
37%
45%
Showing 2014–2023. Full 35-year historical data available below ↓
% White
56%
40%
Showing 2014–2023. Full 35-year historical data available below ↓
% Hawaiian
n/a
n/a
% Two or more races
4%
6%
Showing 2014–2023. Full 12-year historical data available below ↓
All Ethnic Groups
District Revenue and Spending
The revenue/student of $15,470 is higher than the state median of $14,756. The school district revenue/student has grown by 11% over four school years.
The school district's spending/student of $12,806 is less than the state median of $14,421. The school district spending/student has grown by 10% over four school years.
Total Revenue
$81 MM
$6,387 MM
Showing 2014–2023. Full 34-year historical data available below ↓
Spending
$67 MM
$6,242 MM
Showing 2014–2023. Full 34-year historical data available below ↓
Revenue / Student
$15,470
$14,756
Showing 2014–2023. Full 34-year historical data available below ↓
Spending / Student
$12,806
$14,421
Showing 2014–2023. Full 34-year historical data available below ↓
Best Lowndes County School District Public Schools (2026-27)
School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Quick Facts
Rank: #11.
Caledonia Elementary School
(Math: 76% | Reading: 63%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 10%10
9509 Wolfe Rd
Caledonia, MS 39740
(662) 356-2050
Caledonia, MS 39740
(662) 356-2050
Gr: PK-5 | 1,070 students Student-teacher ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 27%
Rank: #22.
Caledonia High School
(Math: 75-79% | Reading: 55-59%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 10%10
111 Confederate Drive
Caledonia, MS 39740
(662) 356-2001
Caledonia, MS 39740
(662) 356-2001
Gr: 9-12 | 640 students Student-teacher ratio: 13:1 Minority enrollment: 28%
Rank: #33.
Caledonia Middle School
(Math: 75% | Reading: 54%)
Rank:
Rank:
9/
Top 20%10
105 Confederate Drive
Caledonia, MS 39740
(662) 356-2042
Caledonia, MS 39740
(662) 356-2042
Gr: 6-8 | 487 students Student-teacher ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 25%
Rank: #44.
New Hope High School
(Math: 65-69% | Reading: 45-49%)
Rank:
Rank:
8/
Top 30%10
2920 New Hope Road
Columbus, MS 39702
(662) 244-4701
Columbus, MS 39702
(662) 244-4701
Gr: 9-12 | 787 students Student-teacher ratio: 13:1 Minority enrollment: 50%
Rank: #55.
New Hope Elementary School
(Math: 54% | Reading: 50%)
Rank:
Rank:
7/
Top 50%10
199 Enlow Road
Columbus, MS 39702
(662) 244-4760
Columbus, MS 39702
(662) 244-4760
Gr: PK-5 | 1,191 students Student-teacher ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 49%
Rank: #66.
New Hope Middle School
(Math: 62% | Reading: 42%)
Rank:
Rank:
7/
Top 50%10
3419 New Hope Rd
Columbus, MS 39702
(662) 244-4740
Columbus, MS 39702
(662) 244-4740
Gr: 6-8 | 604 students Student-teacher ratio: 13:1 Minority enrollment: 49%
Rank: #77.
West Lowndes Elementary School
(Math: 45-49% | Reading: 35-39%)
Rank:
Rank:
5/
Bottom 50%10
1000 Gilmer Wilburn Road
Columbus, MS 39701
(662) 244-5050
Columbus, MS 39701
(662) 244-5050
Gr: PK-6 | 276 students Student-teacher ratio: 11:1 Minority enrollment: 99%
Rank: #88.
West Lowndes High School
(Math: 40-44% | Reading: 15-19%)
Rank:
Rank:
3/
Bottom 50%10
644 South Frontage Road
Columbus, MS 39701
(662) 244-5070
Columbus, MS 39701
(662) 244-5070
Gr: 7-12 | 206 students Student-teacher ratio: 8:1 Minority enrollment: 97%
Rank: n/an/a
Lowndes Co Voc Complex
Vocational School
1085 Lehmberg Road
Columbus, MS 39702
(662) 244-5038
Columbus, MS 39702
(662) 244-5038
Gr: 9-12
Frequently Asked Questions
How many schools belong to Lowndes County School District?
Lowndes County School District manages 9 public schools serving 5,261 students.
What is the rank of Lowndes County School District?
Lowndes County School District is ranked #17 out of 147 school districts in Mississippi (top 20%) based off of combined math and reading proficiency testing data for the 2022-2023 school year. This district ranks in the top 20% of Mississippi school districts for: Highest overall rank (Top 20%), Highest math proficiency (Top 20%), Highest reading/language arts proficiency (Top 20%), Highest graduation rate (Top 5%) and Largest student body (number of students) (Top 1%)
What is the racial composition of students in Lowndes County School District?
56% of Lowndes County School District students are White, 37% of students are Black, 4% of students are Two or more races, and 3% of students are Hispanic.
What is the student/teacher ratio of Lowndes County School District?
Lowndes County School District has a student/teacher ratio of 13:1, which is lower than the Mississippi state average of 14:1.
What is Lowndes County School District's spending/student ratio?
The school district's spending/student of $12,806 is less than the state median of $14,421. The school district spending/student has grown by 10% over four school years.
Recent Articles
Is Your Child's School Day Too Structured?
Discover where free time disappears during your child's school day, how to evaluate lunch, recess, and classroom schedules, and what parents can do when breaks become structured activities.
When Your Child's Best Friend Is in Another Class
Discover how to help your child when their best friend is assigned to another classroom, including school placement policies, maintaining friendships, building connections, and knowing when to request help.
Should Your Child Repeat a Grade or Move Ahead?
Before agreeing to grade retention, learn what evidence to request, how to review school policies, explore alternatives, understand parental rights, and secure an effective academic support plan for your child.
