The top reported proficiency rate is 71% in Math. The lowest is 63% in English language arts.
Original Research by School Decision on Franklin Lower Elementary
Franklin Lower Elementary sits just east of Meadville on Highway 98, serving pre-kindergarten through third grade as part of the Franklin County School District. Meadville is a very small rural town and the county seat of Franklin County, with a civic core along Main Street and a setting north of the Homochitto River. The town sits within easy driving distance of Brookhaven, McComb, and Natchez, which gives residents access to larger retail and medical options while keeping daily life quiet and low-density. Publicly reported sources note the town's roots as a trading center for an agricultural county whose early economy was built on cotton, and the surrounding area remains largely rural today. A chess center in town has drawn national media attention, an unusual civic anchor for a community of this size. No major employers were identified in available sources, though government and the school district itself likely provide steady local employment.
The school's enrollment is moderate for its grade band, with its largest cohorts in kindergarten and third grade. The student body is almost evenly split between Black and White students, with a small multiracial presence and a handful of Asian and Hispanic students. A very large share of children qualify for free or reduced-price meals, reflecting the economic profile of the surrounding community. Data on individualized education programs and English learner services was not available, so families needing specifics on special education or language support would want to ask the school directly.
Because Franklin Lower Elementary serves only pre-K through third grade, the only state testing results come from third grade, which is the first tested grade under Mississippi's MAAP assessment. In math, a strong majority of third graders reached proficient or above. In English language arts, a smaller but still solid majority did so. These are encouraging results for an early-elementary school, suggesting that foundational instruction is landing well for most children by the point they are first assessed. No participation rates were reported, and no multi-year trend data was available, so it is hard to say whether performance is improving, holding steady, or fluctuating. The school does not serve high school grades, so there is no graduation rate to report, and that absence simply reflects the grade band rather than any gap in outcomes.
The housing market around the school is affordable by almost any standard. Typical home values in the school's zip code sit well below both the Mississippi state benchmark and the national benchmark, and the price-to-income ratio is modest. Rent data was not available. For families considering a move to the area, housing costs are unlikely to be a barrier, though the tradeoff is a limited local housing stock in a small, slow-growth community. Meadville's population peaked some time ago and has since declined or stayed flat. The town's official website speaks of growth potential and welcomes new residents and businesses, but no specific housing developments or construction projects surfaced in available sources.
Information on school programs, course access, discipline, staffing, attendance, and Title I status was not provided. We looked for the district's recent strategic priorities or parent-relevant changes and found little, so we left that out rather than guess. Civil-rights data was also absent. Families interested in extracurricular offerings, classroom ratios, or disciplinary climate should reach out to the school or district for current details.
What the available picture shows is a small early-elementary school in an affordable rural community, serving a diverse student body with solid third-grade proficiency results, particularly in math. For parents weighing a move to Meadville, the combination of low housing costs, a manageable commute to larger towns, and early evidence of effective foundational instruction makes Franklin Lower Elementary a reasonable starting point for families with young children. Those needing detailed information on special populations, programs, or school climate will need to go directly to the source.
See more original research from School Decision →