Lowndes County School District

1053 Hwy 45 South
Columbus, MS 39701
(District boundaries shown in map)
: 
9/
10
Top 20%

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 5 public elementary schools serving 3,628 students in Lowndes County School District. This district's average elementary testing ranking is 10/10, which is in the top 10% of public elementary schools in Mississippi.
Public Elementary Schools in Lowndes County School District have an average math proficiency score of 66% (versus the Mississippi public elementary school average of 51%), and reading proficiency score of 51% (versus the 43% statewide average).
Minority enrollment is 43% of the student body (majority Black), which is less than the Mississippi public elementary school average of 58% (majority Black).

Overview

This School District
This State (MS)
# Schools
9 Schools
680 Schools
# Students
5,261 Students
286,688 Students
# Teachers
406 Teachers
19,842 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.
This School District
State Average (MS)
#18 out of 148 school districts
(Top 20%)

Showing 2013–2023. Full 14-year historical data available below ↓

65%
52%

Showing 2013–2023. Full 14-year historical data available below ↓

50%
42%

Showing 2012–2022. Full 13-year historical data available below ↓

62%
55%
92%
89.4%

Showing 2014–2023. Full 13-year historical data available below ↓

(2022-23)
22.1%
26.5%

Students by Ethnicity:

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%
43%

Showing 2014–2023. Full 35-year historical data available below ↓

% White
56%
42%

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.
This School District
This State (MS)
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 Elementary Schools (2026-27)

School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Quick Facts
Rank: #11.
Caledonia Elementary School
(Math: 76% | Reading: 63%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 10%
9509 Wolfe Rd
Caledonia, MS 39740
(662) 356-2050
Gr: PK-5 | 1,070 students Student-teacher ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 27%
Rank: #22.
Caledonia Middle School
(Math: 75% | Reading: 54%)
Rank:
9/
10
Top 20%
105 Confederate Drive
Caledonia, MS 39740
(662) 356-2042
Gr: 6-8 | 487 students Student-teacher ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 25%
Rank: #33.
New Hope Elementary School
(Math: 54% | Reading: 50%)
Rank:
7/
10
Top 50%
199 Enlow Road
Columbus, MS 39702
(662) 244-4760
Gr: PK-5 | 1,191 students Student-teacher ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 49%
Rank: #44.
New Hope Middle School
(Math: 62% | Reading: 42%)
Rank:
7/
10
Top 50%
3419 New Hope Rd
Columbus, MS 39702
(662) 244-4740
Gr: 6-8 | 604 students Student-teacher ratio: 13:1 Minority enrollment: 49%
Rank: #55.
West Lowndes Elementary School
(Math: 45-49% | Reading: 35-39%)
Rank:
5/
10
Bottom 50%
1000 Gilmer Wilburn Road
Columbus, MS 39701
(662) 244-5050
Gr: PK-6 | 276 students Student-teacher ratio: 11:1 Minority enrollment: 99%

Recent Articles

Is Your Child's School Day Too Structured?
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
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?
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.

Quick Facts (26-27)

  • District size: 9 schools
  • Grades: PK-12
  • Enrollment: 5,261 students
  • Student-Teacher Ratio: 13:1
  • Minority Enrollment: 45%
  • : 92% (Top 5% in MS)
  • : Top 20%
  • : 65% (Top 20%)
  • : 50% (Top 20%)
  • : 62% (Top 30%)
  • Source: National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), MS Dept. of Education

Quick Links