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Kemper County

Mississippi · Public K-12

Kemper County, Mississippi hosts 5 public K-12 schools and around 888 students, averaging roughly 178 per campus. Kemper County School District runs the largest share. That works out to 2 elementary, 1 middle, and 2 high schools.

7-year change in Kemper County

SY 2017-18 vs SY 2024-25
Total enrollment
888
-154 (-15%) vs SY 2017-18
School count
4
+1 (+33%) vs SY 2017-18
% White
2%
was 2%
% Hispanic
1%
was 0%
% Black
86%
was 98%
% Asian
0%
was 0%
Source: NCES Common Core of Data, enrollment-weighted demographic averages
Schools
5
1 districts
Enrollment
888
NCES CCD
Median income
$46,431
Below Mississippi avg
Free/reduced lunch
99.7%
Above Mississippi avg
Elementary
2
393 students
Middle
1
191 students
High
2
304 students
Combined / other
0
schools
LARGEST DISTRICT
Kemper County School District
888 students · 1 district in Kemper County

County vs. school enrollment demographics

Left bar is the racial makeup of Kemper 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
White
33%
Hispanic
1%
Black
59%
Asian
0%
Two or more
4%
Native American
3%
Pacific Islander
0%
School enrollment
White
2%
Hispanic
1%
Black
86%
Asian
0%
Two or more
11%
Native American
1%
Pacific Islander
0%
Bachelor's+
18.6%
adults 25+
Poverty rate
20.8%
ACS 5-year
Unemployment
10.8%
civilian labor
Median age
41
18.4% under 18

Test scores in Kemper County

Latest 2023-24 ELA proficiency, 4 schools ranked. Mississippi state average: 46.0%.

See all 4 schools in Kemper County ranked by score →

All schools (5)

LargestA-ZTop rated
NameCityLevelGradesEnrollmentRating
Kemper County High SchoolDekalbHigh09-12304·
KCSD Lower Elementary SchoolScoobaElementaryPK-03285·
Kemper County Middle SchoolDekalbMiddle06-08191·
KCSD Upper Elementary SchoolDe KalbElementary04-05108·
STENNIS VOC TECH COMPLEXDekalbHigh09-120·

Cities in Kemper County

Dekalb2 schoolsDe Kalb1 schoolDekalb1 schoolScooba1 school

About Kemper County

Kemper County is a sparse county of about 8,729 residents in Mississippi. Its public-school system instructs approximately 888 students across 5 schools.

Looking at the broader picture, census numbers show the median household earns about $46,431 a year, roughly 19% of adults have completed at least a four-year degree, and the poverty rate is around 21%. That income level is 7% noticeably below the Mississippi median.

In terms of grade levels, Kemper County consists of 2 elementary schools (393 students), 1 middle school (191), and 2 high schools (304).

Kemper County School District is the biggest district by enrollment, covering about 888 students across Kemper County.

Over the past 7-year window. Across the same 7-year window, public-school enrollment fell 15%: 1,042 students in SY 2017-18 versus 888 in SY 2024-25. Over that span, Kemper County opened 1 school, going from 3 to 4. Demographically, the Black share of enrollment shrank from 98% to 86%.

In the discussion threads here, the community for Kemper County discusses enrollment trends, district policy changes, and bus-route updates. Posts come from current and former families, staff, and alumni.

Frequently asked questions

How many K-12 schools serve Kemper County?
There are 5 public K-12 schools in Kemper County, Mississippi, with a combined enrollment of about 888.
How many high schools are in Kemper County?
Kemper County, Mississippi has 2 public high schools, serving approximately 304 students.
How many middle schools are in Kemper County?
Kemper County, Mississippi has 1 public middle school, serving approximately 191 students.
How many elementary schools are in Kemper County?
Kemper County, Mississippi has 2 public elementary schools, serving approximately 393 students.
What is the largest school district in Kemper County?
Kemper County School District is the largest school district in Kemper County, serving approximately 888 students. The county contains 1 school district overall.
What is the population of Kemper County?
Kemper County, Mississippi has a population of approximately 8,729, with a median age of 41. About 18.4% of residents are under 18.
What is the median household income in Kemper County?
Median household income in Kemper County is $46,431, below the Mississippi average of $49,977. About 20.8% of residents live below the federal poverty line.
How educated are residents of Kemper County?
Approximately 18.6% of adults 25 and older in Kemper County hold a bachelor's degree or higher, according to the Census ACS 5-year estimate.
What share of students in Kemper County qualify for free or reduced lunch?
Roughly 99.7% of students in Kemper County public schools qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, a common proxy for low-income enrollment. This is higher than the Mississippi county average of 82.7%.
What is the student-teacher ratio in Kemper County schools?
Across Kemper County public schools, the enrollment-weighted student-teacher ratio is approximately 9.8 to 1.
DATA · Census ACS 5-year · NCES Common Core of Data