Total enrollment
5,323
-490 (-8%) vs SY 2017-18
Panola County
Mississippi · Public K-12
Public-school enrollment in Panola County clocks in around 5,323 students across 13 schools (7 elementary, 2 middle, and 3 high).
7-year change in Panola County
SY 2017-18 vs SY 2024-25School count
10
-1 (-9%) vs SY 2017-18
% White
30%
was 31%
% Hispanic
3%
was 2%
% Black
61%
was 66%
% Asian
0%
was 0%
Source: NCES Common Core of Data, enrollment-weighted demographic averages
Schools
13
2 districts
Enrollment
5,323
NCES CCD
Median income
$45,945
Below Mississippi avg
Free/reduced lunch
88.2%
Above Mississippi avg
Elementary
7
2,882 students
Middle
2
999 students
High
3
1,442 students
Combined / other
1
schools
LARGEST DISTRICT
South Panola School District
4,220 students · 2 districts in Panola County
County vs. school enrollment demographics
Left bar is the racial makeup of Panola 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+
17.7%
adults 25+
Poverty rate
17.8%
ACS 5-year
Unemployment
6.6%
civilian labor
Median age
39
24.7% under 18
Test scores in Panola County
Latest 2023-24 ELA proficiency, 10 schools ranked. Mississippi state average: 46.0%.
Top 5 schools (ELA)
- Pope School· 55.3%
- Batesville Middle School· 51.4%
- South Panola High School· 45.0%
- Batesville Elementary School· 44.1%
- Batesville Intermediate School· 38.0%
Lowest 5 schools (ELA)
- North Panola Middle School· 18.8%
- Green Hill Intermediate· 20.8%
- Como Primary School· 21.7%
- North Panola High School· 25.7%
- Batesville Junior High School· 37.8%
| Name | City | Level | Grades | Enrollment | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| South Panola High School | Batesville | High | 09-12 | 1,113 | · |
| Batesville Junior High School | Batesville | Middle | 06-08 | 756 | · |
| Batesville Elementary School | Batesville | Elementary | PK-01 | 741 | · |
| Batesville Intermediate School | Batesville | Elementary | 02-03 | 587 | · |
| Pope School | Pope | Elementary | PK-08 | 549 | · |
| Batesville Middle School | Batesville | Elementary | 04-05 | 474 | · |
| North Panola High School | Sardis | High | 09-12 | 329 | · |
| Como Primary School | Como | Elementary | PK-02 | 267 | · |
| Green Hill Intermediate | Sardis | Elementary | 03-05 | 264 | · |
| North Panola Middle School | Como | Middle | 06-08 | 243 | · |
| NORTH PANOLA ACHIEVEMENT ACADEMY | Como | Combined | 04-12 | 0 | · |
| NORTH PANOLA VOC COMP | Como | High | 07-12 | 0 | · |
| SOUTH PANOLA ALTERNATIVE SCHOOL | Batesville | Elementary | PK-06 | 0 | · |
Cities in Panola County
About Panola County
Panola County is a thinly populated Mississippi county of about 32,808 residents, home to 13 public schools and roughly 5,323 students.
Stepping back, census numbers show median household income runs near $45,945, about 18% of adults have a bachelor's degree or above, and the federal-poverty share is near 18%. That income level is 8% lower than the Mississippi median.
On the level-by-level breakdown, Panola County consists of 7 elementary schools (2,882 students), 2 middle schools (999), 3 high schools (1,442), and 1 combined or other schools.
South Panola School District dominates the local landscape, accounting for roughly 4,220 students on its own.
Trend over the past 7 years. Across the same 7-year window, public-school enrollment fell 8%: 5,813 students in SY 2017-18 versus 5,323 in SY 2024-25. The school count fell from 11 to 10 across the same 7-year window. The Black share of public-school enrollment declined from 66% to 61%.
On this page, the community for Panola County discusses school events, board meetings, and seasonal calendars. Members of the local community share what they see day-to-day.
Frequently asked questions
Panola County school rankings
DATA · Census ACS 5-year · NCES Common Core of Data