Total enrollment
1,989
-538 (-21%) vs SY 2017-18
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.
7-year change in Calhoun County
SY 2017-18 vs SY 2024-25School count
5
-3 (-37%) vs SY 2017-18
% White
49%
was 52%
% Hispanic
16%
was 13%
% Black
30%
was 32%
% Asian
1%
was 1%
Source: NCES Common Core of Data, enrollment-weighted demographic averages
Schools
8
2 districts
Enrollment
1,989
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 2023-24 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 7 years. Across the same 7-year window, public-school enrollment fell 21%: 2,527 students in SY 2017-18 versus 1,989 in SY 2024-25. Over that span, Calhoun County closed 3 schools, going from 8 to 5. Demographically, the Hispanic share of enrollment grew from 13% to 16%.
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
Calhoun County school rankings
DATA · Census ACS 5-year · NCES Common Core of Data