Total enrollment
2,807
-1,026 (-27%) vs SY 2017-18
Sunflower County
Mississippi · Public K-12
Sunflower County is one of Mississippi's public-school counties, with 13 campuses serving about 2,807 students (5 elementary, 4 middle, and 3 high). Median household income in the county is roughly $39,956.
7-year change in Sunflower County
SY 2017-18 vs SY 2024-25School count
11
-1 (-8%) vs SY 2017-18
% White
1%
was 2%
% Hispanic
3%
was 2%
% Black
94%
was 95%
% Asian
0%
was 0%
Source: NCES Common Core of Data, enrollment-weighted demographic averages
Residents
24,333
all ages · ACS 5-yr
Schools
13
1 districts
Enrollment
2,807
students · NCES CCD
Median income
$39,956
Below Mississippi avg
Free/reduced lunch
100.0%
Above Mississippi avg
Elementary
5
1,207 students
Middle
4
804 students
High
3
796 students
Combined / other
1
schools
LARGEST DISTRICT
Sunflower County Consolidated School District
2,807 students · 1 district in Sunflower County
County vs. school enrollment demographics
Left bar is the racial makeup of Sunflower 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+
16.0%
adults 25+
Poverty rate
21.6%
ACS 5-year
Unemployment
11.2%
civilian labor
Median age
37
21.4% under 18
Test scores in Sunflower County
Latest 2024-25 ELA proficiency, 11 schools ranked. Mississippi state average: 46.0%.
Top 5 schools (ELA)
- Lockard Elementary School· 62.6%
- Rosser Early Learning Center· 45.7%
- A.W. James Elementary· 40.7%
- Carver Elementary· 38.0%
- Ruleville Middle School· 34.1%
Lowest 5 schools (ELA)
- Thomas E. Edwards Sr. High School· 17.3%
- Moorhead Central School· 22.6%
- Ruleville Central Elementary· 28.6%
- Drew Hunter Middle· 28.8%
- Robert L Merritt Junior High· 31.6%
| Name | City | Level | Grades | Enrollment | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gentry High School | Indianola | High | 10-12 | 465 | · |
| Lockard Elementary School | Indianola | Elementary | KG-03 | 393 | · |
| Robert L Merritt Junior High | Indianola | Middle | 07-09 | 341 | · |
| Thomas E. Edwards Sr. High School | Ruleville | High | 09-12 | 331 | · |
| Ruleville Central Elementary | Ruleville | Elementary | KG-05 | 271 | · |
| Carver Elementary | Indianola | Middle | 04-06 | 250 | · |
| Moorhead Central School | Moorhead | Elementary | KG-08 | 245 | · |
| A.W. James Elementary | Drew | Elementary | PK-05 | 219 | · |
| Ruleville Middle School | Ruleville | Middle | 06-08 | 131 | · |
| Drew Hunter Middle | Drew | Middle | 06-08 | 82 | · |
| Rosser Early Learning Center | Moorhead | Elementary | PK-PK | 79 | · |
| INDIANOLA ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT | Indianola | Combined | KG-12 | 0 | · |
| INDIANOLA CAREER & TECH CENTER | Indianola | High | 10-12 | 0 | · |
Cities in Sunflower County
About Sunflower County
In Mississippi, Sunflower County is a rural-scale county of about 24,333 residents. 13 public schools across the county teaches about 2,807 students between them.
For perspective, census numbers show the median household earns about $39,956 a year, about 16% of adults have a bachelor's degree or above, and roughly 22% of residents live below the federal poverty line. That income level is 20% noticeably below the Mississippi median.
For a sense of the school types, Sunflower County comprises 5 elementary schools (1,207 students), 4 middle schools (804), 3 high schools (796), and 1 combined or other schools.
Sunflower County Consolidated School District is the biggest district by enrollment, covering about 2,807 students across Sunflower County.
Trend over the past 7 years. Total public-school enrollment in Sunflower County has contracted 27% since SY 2017-18, moving from about 3,833 students to 2,807. The school count fell from 12 to 11 across the same 7-year window.
On this page, the community for Sunflower County discusses comparison threads between local schools and program reviews. Anyone with firsthand knowledge of these schools is welcome to weigh in.
Frequently asked questions
Sunflower County school rankings
DATA · Census ACS 5-year · NCES Common Core of Data