Total enrollment
14,808
-879 (-6%) vs SY 2017-18
Lee County
Mississippi · Public K-12
Combined enrollment across Lee County's 34 public schools is roughly 14,808 students, an average of about 436 per campus. Tupelo Public School District runs the largest share. The level mix is 18 elementary, 7 middle, and 7 high schools.
7-year change in Lee County
SY 2017-18 vs SY 2024-25School count
30
0 (0%) vs SY 2017-18
% White
46%
was 53%
% Hispanic
7%
was 4%
% Black
41%
was 39%
% Asian
2%
was 2%
Source: NCES Common Core of Data, enrollment-weighted demographic averages
Residents
83,034
all ages · ACS 5-yr
Schools
34
4 districts
Enrollment
14,808
students · NCES CCD
Median income
$67,863
Above Mississippi avg
Free/reduced lunch
66.0%
Below Mississippi avg
Elementary
18
7,249 students
Middle
7
3,207 students
High
7
4,352 students
Combined / other
2
schools
LARGEST DISTRICT
Tupelo Public School District
7,192 students · 4 districts in Lee County
County vs. school enrollment demographics
Left bar is the racial makeup of Lee 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+
28.6%
adults 25+
Poverty rate
10.5%
ACS 5-year
Unemployment
5.1%
civilian labor
Median age
38
25.0% under 18
Test scores in Lee County
Latest 2023-24 ELA proficiency, 30 schools ranked. Mississippi state average: 46.0%.
Top 5 schools (ELA)
- Nettleton Primary School· 64.4%
- Mooreville Elementary School· 63.4%
- Joyner Elementary School· 58.0%
- Saltillo Primary School· 56.0%
- Mooreville High School· 55.4%
Lowest 5 schools (ELA)
- Plantersville Middle School· 23.3%
- Verona Elementary School· 24.0%
- Shannon High School· 28.7%
- Nettleton Junior High· 30.5%
- Shannon Primary School· 31.5%
| Name | City | Level | Grades | Enrollment | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tupelo High School | Tupelo | High | 09-12 | 2,123 | · |
| Tupelo Middle School | Tupelo | Middle | 07-08 | 1,070 | · |
| Saltillo High School | Saltillo | High | 09-13 | 939 | · |
| Mooreville Elementary School | Mooreville | Elementary | PK-05 | 722 | · |
| Saltillo Primary School | Saltillo | Elementary | PK-02 | 704 | · |
| Saltillo Elementary School | Saltillo | Elementary | 03-05 | 696 | · |
| Guntown Middle School | Guntown | Middle | 06-08 | 674 | · |
| Lawhon Elementary School | Tupelo | Elementary | 02-05 | 575 | · |
| Shannon High School | Shannon | High | 09-13 | 529 | · |
| Milam Elementary School | Tupelo | Middle | 06-06 | 456 | · |
| Mooreville High School | Mooreville | High | 09-13 | 445 | · |
| Joyner Elementary School | Tupelo | Elementary | KG-02 | 444 | · |
| Parkway Elementary School | Tupelo | Elementary | KG-02 | 418 | · |
| Lawndale Elementary School | Tupelo | Elementary | 03-05 | 378 | · |
| Rankin Elementary School | Tupelo | Elementary | 03-05 | 375 | · |
| Thomas Street Elementary School | Tupelo | Elementary | KG-02 | 374 | · |
| Verona Elementary School | Verona | Elementary | PK-04 | 364 | · |
| Pierce Street Elementary School | Tupelo | Elementary | 03-05 | 345 | · |
| Mooreville Middle School | Mooreville | Middle | 06-08 | 333 | · |
| Early Childhood Education Center | Tupelo | Elementary | PK-PK | 322 | · |
| Nettleton High School | Nettleton | High | 09-13 | 316 | · |
| Carver Elementary School | Tupelo | Elementary | KG-01 | 312 | · |
| Baldwyn Elementary | Baldwyn | Elementary | KG-04 | 279 | · |
| Shannon Elementary School | Shannon | Elementary | 03-05 | 257 | · |
| Shannon Primary School | Shannon | Elementary | PK-02 | 249 | · |
| Nettleton Junior High | Nettleton | Middle | 06-08 | 243 | · |
| Plantersville Middle School | Plantersville | Middle | 05-08 | 241 | · |
| Nettleton Primary School | Nettleton | Elementary | KG-02 | 220 | · |
| Nettleton Elementary School | Nettleton | Elementary | 03-05 | 215 | · |
| Shannon Middle School | Shannon | Middle | 06-08 | 190 | · |
| LEE CO. CAREER & TECHNICAL SCHOOL | Tupelo | High | 09-12 | 0 | · |
| LEE CO. SCHOOLS IMPROVEMENT CENTER | Belden | Combined | 04-12 | 0 | · |
| TUPELO ALTERNATIVE SCHOOL | Tupelo | Combined | 04-12 | 0 | · |
| TUPELO LEE CO VOC TECH SCHOOL | Tupelo | High | 09-12 | 0 | · |
Cities in Lee County
About Lee County
Lee County is a middle-population Mississippi county of about 83,034 residents, home to 34 public schools and roughly 14,808 students.
For perspective, census numbers show median household income runs near $67,863, roughly 29% of adults have completed at least a four-year degree, and roughly 11% of residents live below the federal poverty line. That income level is 36% meaningfully above the Mississippi median.
In terms of grade levels, Lee County is built around 18 elementary schools (7,249 students), 7 middle schools (3,207), 7 high schools (4,352), and 2 combined or other schools.
Tupelo Public School District dominates the local landscape, accounting for roughly 7,192 students on its own.
Five-year track record. Combined enrollment now sits at 14,808 students, shrank 6% from the 15,687 reported in SY 2017-18. On the demographic side, White enrollment moved from 53% to 46% over the same window.
In the discussion threads here, the community for Lee County discusses comparison threads between local schools and program reviews. Posts come from current and former families, staff, and alumni.
Frequently asked questions
Lee County school rankings
DATA · Census ACS 5-year · NCES Common Core of Data