Among the ethnicities represented in Lauderdale County schools, Black was the most prevalent among the county students in the 2023-24 school year, according to the Mississippi Department of Education.
Of the 9,767 students attending Lauderdale County schools, 55.3% were Black. White students were the second most common ethnicity, making up 38.1% of Lauderdale County student body.
In the previous school year, Black students were also the most common group in Lauderdale County, representing 57.9% of the student body.
In the 2023-24 school year, the total number of students enrolled in public schools in the county dropped 7.2% when compared to the previous year.
Mississippi’s schools, with an enrollment of 436,523 in the 2023-24 academic year, are mostly divided between two ethnicities, with Black or African American students being the largest racial group at 46.86%, followed by white students at 42.14%.
Students in the state showed a significant improvement in the 2022-23 academic year, demonstrating sustained progress in their post-pandemic recovery. Overall, 87% of schools and 91% of districts achieved a grade of C or better, compared to 81% of schools and 87% of districts in the prior year.
Results from the 2022-23 Mississippi Academic Assessment Program (MAAP) showed students reaching an all-time high in all core subjects. Students better performed on the Math and English portion of the test, achieving grades around 5% better than in the previous year.
| School name | Most prevalent ethnicity | % of Total Student Population | Total Enrollment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Northwest Junior High School | Black | 94% | 518 |
| Northeast Lauderdale Middle School | Black | 58.1% | 539 |
| Clarkdale High School | White | 83.9% | 410 |
| West Lauderdale Middle School | White | 79.8% | 516 |
| Magnolia Middle School | Black | 92.6% | 443 |
| Northeast Lauderdale Elementary School | Black | 59.4% | 746 |
| West Hills Elementary School | Black | 92.3% | 428 |
| West Lauderdale High School | White | 75.9% | 551 |
| Northeast Lauderdale High School | Black | 56.9% | 610 |
| Southeast Lauderdale Middle School | White | 61.8% | 372 |
| Clarkdale Elementary School | White | 86.9% | 542 |
| Southeast Lauderdale High School | White | 58% | 376 |
| Southeast Lauderdale Elementary School | White | 65.6% | 564 |
| West Lauderdale Elementary School | White | 80.1% | 725 |
| Poplar Springs Elementary School | Black | 82.2% | 382 |
| Crestwood Elementary School | Black | 92.1% | 352 |
| Parkview Elementary School | Black | 95.5% | 379 |
| Meridian High School | Black | 92.5% | 1,314 |
