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Schools›Mississippi›CLARKSDALE
SCHOOL COMMUNITY·CLARKSDALE MUNICIPAL SCHOOL DISTRICT·NCES 280105000119

W.A. Higgins Academy Of Arts/International Studies

1749 CHESTNUT STREET, CLARKSDALE, MS 38614 · (662) 627-8550 · Coahoma County
GRADES 07–08MIDDLE33-TOWNTITLE IREGULAR SCHOOL269 STUDENTS
Enrollment
269
Middle
DISTRICT 233 · STATE 452
Student : Teacher
23.6:1
11 FTE teachers
DISTRICT 19.9:1 · STATE 13.7:1
Free / Reduced Lunch
97%
261 students
DISTRICT 98% · STATE 80%
Community
0
0 members
Enrollment and student:teacher ratio compared against other middle schools. Free/Reduced Lunch and demographics compared against all schools.
Enrollment by grade
Grade 7
99
Grade 8
170
Student demographics
White
41%
DISTRICT 1% · STATE 40%
Hispanic
31%
DISTRICT 1% · STATE 7%
Black
15056%
DISTRICT 73% · STATE 45%
Two+
11242%
DISTRICT 25% · STATE 6%
Student head counts by race/ethnicity from federal NCES enrollment data. Very small groups may be suppressed in the source, so categories do not always sum exactly to total enrollment.
Gender split
Male
14052%
Female
12948%

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Test scores

MAAP 2023-24 . % Proficient + Advanced
English Language Arts
12.1%
MS avg 45.9% . -4.0pp since 2022
Math
13.7%
MS avg 52.8% . -1.0pp since 2022
Source: MAAP. All students, all grades. See all years and grades →

7-year change

SY 2017-18 vs SY 2024-25
Enrollment
269
-114 (-30%) vs 2017
Student : Teacher
23.6:1
was 8.7:1
% White
1%
was 1%
% Hispanic
1%
was 1%
% Black
56%
was 98%
% Asian
0%
was 1%
Source: NCES Common Core of Data

About W.A. Higgins Academy Of Arts/International Studies

W.A. Higgins Academy Of Arts/International Studies is one of the compact middle schools in CLARKSDALE, Mississippi, operated by Clarksdale Municipal School District, with 269 students on its rolls from grades 7 through 8. Compared to the state average of about 452 students per school, that is 40% leaner than typical.

Within Clarksdale Municipal School District, which oversees 7 schools and 1,857 students, W.A. Higgins Academy Of Arts/International Studies is one campus in the system.

Demographically, W.A. Higgins Academy Of Arts/International Studies reports that 56% of the student body identifies as Black. Beyond that, the school reports 42% multiracial. That is meaningfully less Black than the county at large, where the share is closer to 74%.

Looking at school resources, The school employs 11 full-time-equivalent teachers, for a student-teacher ratio near 23.6:1. That figure is higher than the state norm's 13.7:1 average. About 97% of enrolled students meet the income threshold for free or reduced-price lunch, which schools and policymakers use as a rough income-mix signal.

In the area at large, Coahoma County reports that median household earnings sit near $37,461, 20% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, and the poverty rate sits near 31%. Across Coahoma County's 15 public schools (combined enrollment of about 3,518 students), W.A. Higgins Academy Of Arts/International Studies is one campus in the mix.

The closest other public school is George H. Oliver Visual/Performing Arts Magnet School, roughly 0.1 miles away. 8 of the 8 nearest public schools sit inside a five-mile radius.

W.A. Higgins Academy Of Arts/International Studies operates from a town-based location.

Looking at the recent track record. Looking back 7 years, enrollment at W.A. Higgins Academy Of Arts/International Studies has fell 30%, going from 383 students in 2018 to 269 in 2025. Black enrollment moved from 98% to 56% across the same window. Class-load math has widened: from 8.7:1 in 2018 to 23.6:1 in 2025.

On the community side, members of the W.A. Higgins Academy Of Arts/International Studies community share and discuss sports schedules, lunch menu changes, and school spirit week. Contributors range from current parents to recent graduates and teachers.

Coahoma County at a glance

View full county profile
Population
20,540
Census ACS
Median income
$37,461
Household, ACS
Bachelor's+
20%
Adults 25+
Poverty rate
31%
Below federal line
Schools in county
15
3,518 students

Quick facts

School name
W.A. Higgins Academy Of Arts/International Studies
District
Clarksdale Municipal School District
Address
1749 CHESTNUT STREET, CLARKSDALE, MS 38614
Phone
(662) 627-8550
County
Coahoma County
Level
Middle
Grade range
07–08
Total enrollment
269
Teachers (FTE)
11
Student–teacher ratio
23.6:1
Free/Reduced lunch
261 (97%)
Locale
33-Town: Remote
NCES ID
280105000119
Charter school
No
Virtual school
No

Related schools

Other schools in Clarksdale Municipal School District
Other schools in CLARKSDALE
Nearby schools

Frequently asked questions

About W.A. Higgins Academy Of Arts/International Studies
What is the total enrollment at W.A. Higgins Academy Of Arts/International Studies?
W.A. Higgins Academy Of Arts/International Studies enrolls approximately 269 students in grades 07-08.
Is W.A. Higgins Academy Of Arts/International Studies an elementary, middle, or high school?
W.A. Higgins Academy Of Arts/International Studies is a middle school covering grades 07-08.
What is the student-teacher ratio at W.A. Higgins Academy Of Arts/International Studies?
The student-to-teacher ratio at W.A. Higgins Academy Of Arts/International Studies is approximately 23.6:1 (11 FTE teachers).
What is the racial breakdown of students at W.A. Higgins Academy Of Arts/International Studies?
At W.A. Higgins Academy Of Arts/International Studies, the student body is approximately 1% White, 1% Hispanic, 56% Black, 42% Two or more.
What district is W.A. Higgins Academy Of Arts/International Studies in?
W.A. Higgins Academy Of Arts/International Studies is part of Clarksdale Municipal School District.
Data sourceSchool profile facts are sourced from the NCES. Community content is posted by allk12 members.
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