The top reported proficiency rate is 56% in Science. The lowest is 38% in Math.
Original Research by School Decision on Mendenhall Elementary School
Mendenhall Elementary sits on East Street in the heart of this small county-seat town, a place where the historic Simpson County Courthouse anchors Main Street and the built environment unfolds along U.S. Highway 49. The school serves kindergarten through fifth grade as part of the Simpson County School District. Mendenhall itself is a quiet community roughly a half-hour south of Jackson, part of the broader Jackson metropolitan area but retaining its own distinct identity. Publicly reported sources describe a town experiencing gradual population decline rather than growth, with no major new housing or commercial projects on the horizon. For a family considering this school, that context matters. The housing stock is affordable relative to both state and national benchmarks, and the community's civic life centers on county government, the public library, and local heritage sites rather than an expanding private-sector economy.
The student body reflects the town itself. Enrollment is moderate for an elementary school serving six grade levels, and the racial composition is nearly evenly split between Black and White students, with a small share of children identified as two or more races. A very large majority of students qualify for free or reduced-price meals, which signals the economic pressures many families in this community face. Data on English learners and students with individualized education programs was not available, so those populations cannot be characterized here. A parent with questions about special education services or language support would want to ask the school directly.
On state assessments, the picture is mixed. Mississippi's MAAP results for the most recent school year show math proficiency declining as students move up through the grades. Third graders posted the strongest math result, with nearly half testing at or above proficient. Fourth grade dipped, and fifth grade came in lower still. This pattern of weaker results in the upper elementary grades is something a parent may want to look into further with the school, particularly if a child is approaching the transition to middle school. English language arts results follow a different arc. Third and fourth grade proficiency sits below the third grade math mark, but fifth grade ELA bounces back to the school's best reading result. Science, tested only in fifth grade, is the school's strongest reported measure, with a clear majority of students reaching proficiency. That science outcome suggests the upper-grade teaching team is doing something effective in that subject.
No participation rate data was reported for any tested grade or subject, and no multi-year trend information was available, so it is hard to say whether these results represent improvement, decline, or stability over time. A parent trying to understand the school's trajectory would need to look beyond what the current data set provides.
At the district level, families should be aware of a lingering question about the future of secondary education in Simpson County. In early 2022, the district proposed consolidating Magee High School and Mendenhall High School into a single Simpson County High School, ending a decades-long athletic rivalry. A bond referendum to fund the new facility was put before voters and rejected, leaving the consolidation plan and its financing unresolved. While that issue concerns the high school level and does not directly affect Mendenhall Elementary, it speaks to the broader fiscal and planning environment a family would be entering.
Housing near the school is inexpensive by both state and national standards. The typical home value in the school's zip code sits well below the Mississippi benchmark and far below the national figure, and recent values have drifted slightly downward. For a family looking to buy, the affordability ratio is favorable, though the lack of rental rate data means renters will need to do their own legwork. The community's small scale means everything is close together, but walkability data was not available and the town's layout is oriented around the highway rather than dense pedestrian infrastructure.
What Mendenhall Elementary offers is a community-rooted elementary education in a town where schools and civic institutions sit side by side. The academic results are uneven across subjects and grades, with real strength in fifth-grade science and reading but softer spots in upper-grade math. The economic context is one of constrained resources and a population that is shrinking rather than growing. Families drawn to small-town life and affordable housing will find those qualities here, and the nearly even racial balance of the student body is a characteristic some parents will value. Questions about staffing, special populations, and the district's longer-term plans remain open, and a visit to the school would help fill those gaps.
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