Total enrollment
1,989
-267 (-12%) vs SY 2020-21
Calhoun County
Mississippi · Public K-12
Calhoun County operates 8 public K-12 schools across Mississippi, with a combined student body of roughly 1,989 and a county population near 12,922. The level mix is 2 elementary and 3 high schools.
4-year change in Calhoun County
SY 2020-21 vs SY 2024-25School count
5
-1 (-17%) vs SY 2020-21
Source: NCES Common Core of Data, enrollment-weighted demographic averages
How Calhoun County ranks
Among counties| Measure | This county | In Mississippi | In the US |
|---|---|---|---|
| State test proficiency ranked highest first | 55.3% | #36 of 73 | N/A |
| Enrollment ranked largest first | 1,989 | #58 of 73 | #2,225 of 2,745 |
| Number of schools ranked most first | 5 | #56 of 73 | N/A |
| Students per teacher ranked fewest first | 11.2:1 | #2 of 73 | #326 of 2,655 |
| Free or reduced-price lunch share ranked highest first | 76.4% | #41 of 73 | #555 of 2,526 |
| Diversity index ranked most diverse first | 63.8% | #9 of 70 | #380 of 2,707 |
Counties need at least 3 schools and 1,000 students to be ranked. Test proficiency is ranked within the state only, since each state gives a different test. Each rank links to the full list.
Calhoun County school rankings
Residents
12,922
all ages · ACS 5-yr
Schools
8
2 districts
Enrollment
1,989
students · NCES CCD
Median income
$43,125
Below Mississippi avg
Free/reduced lunch
76.4%
Below Mississippi avg
Elementary
2
551 students
Middle
0
schools
High
3
814 students
Combined / other
3
624 students
LARGEST DISTRICT
Calhoun County School District
1,989 students · 2 districts in Calhoun County
County vs. school enrollment demographics
Left bar is the racial makeup of Calhoun County residents (Census ACS 5-year). Right bar is the enrollment-weighted makeup of public schools in the county (NCES CCD). NCES systematically under-reports Hispanic, Pacific Islander, and Native American enrollment for many schools; where the resident share is meaningful but the reported school share is zero, we mark the school bar "not reported".
County residents
School enrollment
Bachelor's+
12.1%
adults 25+
Poverty rate
15.3%
ACS 5-year
Unemployment
4.7%
civilian labor
Median age
42
22.1% under 18
Test scores in Calhoun County
Latest 2024-25 ELA proficiency, 5 schools ranked. Mississippi state average: 46.0%.
Top 5 schools (ELA)
- Bruce Elementary· 55.6%
- Bruce High School· 45.7%
- Vardaman Attendance Center· 45.0%
- Calhoun City Elementary· 42.7%
- Calhoun City High School· 34.0%
| Name | City | Level | Grades | Enrollment | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vardaman Attendance Center | Vardaman | Combined | PK-12 | 624 | · |
| Bruce High School | Bruce | High | 05-12 | 435 | · |
| Calhoun City High School | Calhoun City | High | 05-12 | 379 | · |
| Bruce Elementary | Bruce | Elementary | PK-04 | 316 | · |
| Calhoun City Elementary | Calhoun City | Elementary | PK-04 | 235 | · |
| CALHOUN CO CAREER & TECH CTR | Calhoun City | High | 09-12 | 0 | · |
| VARDAMAN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | Vardaman | Combined | M-M | · | · |
| VARDAMAN HIGH SCHOOL | Vardaman | Combined | M-M | · | · |
Cities in Calhoun County
About Calhoun County
In Mississippi, Calhoun County is a small county of about 12,922 residents. 8 public schools across the county instructs about 1,989 students between them.
Looking at the broader picture, census numbers show median household income runs near $43,125, 12% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, and roughly 15% of residents live below the federal poverty line. That income level is 14% noticeably below the Mississippi median.
In terms of grade levels, Calhoun County is made up of 2 elementary schools (551 students), 3 high schools (814), and 3 combined or other schools.
The largest single district in Calhoun County is Calhoun County School District, which alone enrolls about 1,989 students.
Looking at the last 4 years. Across the same 4-year window, public-school enrollment fell 12%: 2,256 students in SY 2020-21 versus 1,989 in SY 2024-25. Over that span, Calhoun County closed 1 school, going from 6 to 5.
In the discussion threads here, the community for Calhoun County discusses enrollment trends, district policy changes, and bus-route updates. Anyone with firsthand knowledge of these schools is welcome to weigh in.
Frequently asked questions
DATA · Census ACS 5-year · NCES Common Core of Data