Total enrollment
5,323
-323 (-6%) vs SY 2020-21
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).
4-year change in Panola County
SY 2020-21 vs SY 2024-25School count
10
0 (0%) vs SY 2020-21
Source: NCES Common Core of Data, enrollment-weighted demographic averages
How Panola County ranks
Among counties| Measure | This county | In Mississippi | In the US |
|---|---|---|---|
| State test proficiency ranked highest first | 50.6% | #45 of 73 | N/A |
| Enrollment ranked largest first | 5,323 | #23 of 73 | #1,271 of 2,745 |
| Number of schools ranked most first | 10 | #31 of 73 | N/A |
| Students per teacher ranked fewest first | 14.2:1 | #50 of 73 | #1,466 of 2,655 |
| Free or reduced-price lunch share ranked highest first | 88.2% | #29 of 73 | #315 of 2,526 |
| Diversity index ranked most diverse first | 53.2% | #37 of 70 | #945 of 2,707 |
Counties need at least 3 schools and 1,000 students to be ranked. Test proficiency is ranked within the state only, since each state gives a different test. Each rank links to the full list.
Panola County school rankings
Residents
32,808
all ages · ACS 5-yr
Schools
13
2 districts
Enrollment
5,323
students · 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 2024-25 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 4 years. Across the same 4-year window, public-school enrollment fell 6%: 5,646 students in SY 2020-21 versus 5,323 in SY 2024-25.
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
DATA · Census ACS 5-year · NCES Common Core of Data