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Lowndes County

Mississippi · Public K-12

Public schools in Lowndes County, Mississippi total 20, with combined enrollment of about 8,512 students against a county population of 57,838. That breaks down as 8 elementary, 3 middle, and 7 high.

7-year change in Lowndes County

SY 2017-18 vs SY 2024-25
Total enrollment
8,512
-956 (-10%) vs SY 2017-18
School count
16
-1 (-6%) vs SY 2017-18
% White
37%
was 37%
% Hispanic
3%
was 2%
% Black
56%
was 59%
% Asian
1%
was 1%
Source: NCES Common Core of Data, enrollment-weighted demographic averages
Schools
20
3 districts
Enrollment
8,512
NCES CCD
Median income
$53,812
Above Mississippi avg
Free/reduced lunch
75.2%
Below Mississippi avg
Elementary
8
4,086 students
Middle
3
1,688 students
High
7
2,738 students
Combined / other
2
schools
LARGEST DISTRICT
Lowndes County School District
5,261 students · 3 districts in Lowndes County

County vs. school enrollment demographics

Left bar is the racial makeup of Lowndes 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
49%
Hispanic
2%
Black
44%
Asian
1%
Two or more
4%
Native American
0%
Pacific Islander
0%
School enrollment
White
37%
Hispanic
3%
Black
56%
Asian
1%
Two or more
3%
Native American
0%
Pacific Islander
0%
Bachelor's+
28.1%
adults 25+
Poverty rate
14.8%
ACS 5-year
Unemployment
6.3%
civilian labor
Median age
38
23.8% under 18

Test scores in Lowndes County

Latest 2023-24 ELA proficiency, 15 schools ranked. Mississippi state average: 46.0%.

See all 15 schools in Lowndes County ranked by score →

All schools (20)

LargestA-ZTop rated
NameCityLevelGradesEnrollmentRating
New Hope ElementaryColumbusElementaryPK-051,191·
Caledonia ElementaryCaledoniaElementaryPK-051,070·
Columbus High SchoolColumbusHigh09-13865·
New Hope High SchoolColumbusHigh09-12787·
Caledonia High SchoolCaledoniaHigh09-12640·
New Hope Middle SchoolColumbusMiddle06-08604·
Columbus Middle SchoolColumbusMiddle06-08597·
Caledonia Middle SchoolCaledoniaMiddle06-08487·
Cook Elementary SchoolColumbusElementaryPK-05415·
Stokes Beard Elementary SchoolColumbusElementaryPK-05369·
Sale Elementary SchoolColumbusElementaryPK-05290·
West Lowndes ElementaryColumbusElementaryPK-06276·
Fairview Elementary SchoolColumbusElementaryPK-05244·
MS SCHOOL FOR MATH AND SCIENCEColumbusHigh11-12240·
Franklin AcademyColumbusElementaryPK-05231·
West Lowndes High SchoolColumbusHigh07-12206·
CMSD ALTERNATIVE SCHOOLColumbusCombinedKG-120·
LOWNDES CO VOC COMPLEXColumbusHigh09-120·
LOWNDES COUNTY ALTERNATIVE SCHOOLColumbusCombinedPK-120·
MCKELLAR VOCATIONAL CENTERColumbusHigh09-120·

Cities in Lowndes County

Columbus9 schoolsColumbus8 schoolsCaledonia2 schoolsCaledonia1 school

About Lowndes County

Across the low-population Mississippi county of Lowndes County of about 57,838 residents, the public-school footprint covers 20 schools and about 8,512 students.

Stepping back, census numbers show typical household earnings sit around $53,812, about 28% of adults have a bachelor's degree or above, and the poverty rate is around 15%. That income level is 8% above the Mississippi median.

Looking at the level breakdown, Lowndes County consists of 8 elementary schools (4,086 students), 3 middle schools (1,688), 7 high schools (2,738), and 2 combined or other schools.

Lowndes County School District dominates the local landscape, accounting for roughly 5,261 students on its own.

Over the past 7-year window. Total public-school enrollment in Lowndes County has shrank 10% since SY 2017-18, moving from about 9,468 students to 8,512. Over that span, Lowndes County shed 1 school, going from 17 to 16.

Within the allk12 community for this area, the community for Lowndes 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 Lowndes County?
There are 20 public K-12 schools in Lowndes County, Mississippi, with a combined enrollment of about 8,512.
How many high schools are in Lowndes County?
Lowndes County, Mississippi has 7 public high schools, serving approximately 2,738 students.
How many middle schools are in Lowndes County?
Lowndes County, Mississippi has 3 public middle schools, serving approximately 1,688 students.
How many elementary schools are in Lowndes County?
Lowndes County, Mississippi has 8 public elementary schools, serving approximately 4,086 students.
What is the largest school district in Lowndes County?
Lowndes County School District is the largest school district in Lowndes County, serving approximately 5,261 students. The county contains 3 school districts overall.
How many people live in Lowndes County?
Lowndes County has roughly 57,838 residents according to the latest Census ACS 5-year estimate.
What is the median household income in Lowndes County?
Median household income in Lowndes County is $53,812, above the Mississippi average of $49,977. About 14.8% of residents live below the federal poverty line.
How educated are residents of Lowndes County?
Approximately 28.1% of adults 25 and older in Lowndes County hold a bachelor's degree or higher, according to the Census ACS 5-year estimate.
What share of students in Lowndes County qualify for free or reduced lunch?
Roughly 75.2% of students in Lowndes County public schools qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, a common proxy for low-income enrollment. This is lower than the Mississippi county average of 82.7%.
What is the student-teacher ratio in Lowndes County schools?
Across Lowndes County public schools, the enrollment-weighted student-teacher ratio is approximately 13.1 to 1.

Lowndes County school rankings

Largest schoolsAll rankings →
DATA · Census ACS 5-year · NCES Common Core of Data