The top reported proficiency rate is 60% in Science. The lowest is 39% in English language arts.
Original Research by School Decision on Baldwyn High School
Baldwyn High School sits in a small north Mississippi town straddling Lee and Prentiss counties, part of the Tupelo micropolitan area. The town has a historic downtown along Main Street with retail and service businesses, and publicly reported descriptions emphasize a close-knit community where shop owners know their customers by name. The local economy historically relied on farming and later on clothing and furniture manufacturing. Publicly available data on current major employers was not found. The town's population has been declining over recent decades, and no major new housing developments or growth projects surfaced in available search results. Home values in the school's zip code sit well below the state benchmark and far below the national figure, making this one of the more affordable housing markets a family will encounter. Rental data was not available.
The school serves grades five through twelve under the Baldwyn School District. It is a traditional public school, not a charter or magnet. Enrollment is modest for a school spanning eight grade levels, and the racial composition is roughly balanced between white and Black students, with a small multiracial share and very few students identified as Asian or Hispanic. A substantial majority of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch. Data on English learners and special education populations was not reported, so those shares cannot be characterized here.
On Mississippi's MAAP assessments for the most recent school year, results varied widely across grades and subjects. Science was the strongest area: fifth-grade science proficiency was high, and eighth-grade science landed at a moderate level. In math, eighth grade was the standout, with a clear majority of tested students reaching proficiency. Seventh grade was also solid. Fifth-grade math was middling, and sixth-grade math was the weakest result, with fewer than a third of tested students proficient. English language arts followed a similar uneven pattern. Sixth-grade ELA was the high point, with roughly half of students proficient. Fifth grade was moderate. Seventh and eighth grades both dipped, with fewer than a third of students reaching proficiency in each. No high-school-level assessment results were included in the available data, so a parent would need to ask the school directly about Algebra I, English II, Biology, and U.S. History outcomes for the upper grades. Graduation rate data was not provided, and program offerings such as AP, dual credit, or career and technical pathways were not available in the dataset. A parent interested in those options should contact the school.
The Baldwyn School District recently undertook what appears to be a substantial facilities project. Publicly reported auditor records indicate the district took on new long-term debt and increased capital assets considerably in fiscal year 2024, driven by construction in progress. This suggests families can expect improved or new physical facilities, though it also means the district carries heavier financial obligations going forward.
A few things stand out for a family weighing this school. The grade span from five through twelve under one roof means younger students share a building with high schoolers, which some families see as convenient and others prefer to keep separated. The test results show real strength in upper-elementary science and eighth-grade math, but the middle grades in ELA and the sixth-grade math results are areas a parent may want to look into further with the school. The broader community is small, affordable, and rooted in its history, with a downtown that has been rebuilt and maintained through Main Street preservation efforts. Whether Baldwyn High fits a given family depends on whether that small-town setting, the combined grade configuration, and the district's investment in facilities align with what they are looking for. The missing high school assessment data, graduation rate, and program information are gaps worth filling before making a decision.
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