Enrollment
269
Middle
DISTRICT 233 · STATE 452
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
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
Student demographics
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
School pathway
Students here typically continue to
W.A. Higgins Academy Of Arts/International Studies→J.W. Stampley 9th Grade Academy→Clarksdale High School
Based on grade levels within Clarksdale Municipal School District. Attendance zones can vary; confirm enrollment with the district.
QUIET COMMUNITY
Be the first to start a discussion at W.A. Higgins Academy Of Arts/International Studies.
START A DISCUSSIONTest scores
MAAP 2023-24 . % Proficient + AdvancedEnglish Language Arts
12.1%
MS avg 45.9% . -4.0pp since 2022
Math
13.7%
MS avg 52.8% . -1.0pp since 2022
What this means: On the MAAP, Mississippi's statewide test, about 12 of every 100 students at this school read and write at grade level and about 14 of 100 do math at grade level. Across all Mississippi schools, those numbers are about 46 and 53. Reading and writing scores are down about 4 points since 2022, while math scores are down about 1 points.
Source: MAAP. All students, all grades. See all years and grades →
7-year change
SY 2017-18 vs SY 2024-25Enrollment
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 profilePopulation
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
Related schools
Other schools in Clarksdale Municipal School District
- Clarksdale High SchoolHigh · 473 students
- George H. Oliver Visual/Performing Arts Magnet SchoolElementary · 299 students
- Kirkpatrick Health And Wellness Magnet SchoolElementary · 266 students
- Booker T. Washington International Studies Magnet SchoolElementary · 247 students
- Oakhurst Intermediate SchoolMiddle · 197 students
- J.W. Stampley 9th Grade AcademyHigh · 106 students
Other schools in CLARKSDALE
- Clarksdale Collegiate Public Charter SchoolElementary · 652 students
- Clarksdale High SchoolHigh · 473 students
- Coahoma County High SchoolHigh · 345 students
- George H. Oliver Visual/Performing Arts Magnet SchoolElementary · 299 students
- Kirkpatrick Health And Wellness Magnet SchoolElementary · 266 students
- Booker T. Washington International Studies Magnet SchoolElementary · 247 students
Nearby schools
- George H. Oliver Visual/Performing Arts Magnet School0.1 mi · 299
- Booker T. Washington International Studies Magnet School1.0 mi · 247
- Oakhurst Intermediate School1.4 mi · 197
- J.W. Stampley 9th Grade Academy1.5 mi · 106
- Clarksdale High School1.8 mi · 473
- Kirkpatrick Health And Wellness Magnet School2.6 mi · 266
Frequently asked questions
About W.A. Higgins Academy Of Arts/International StudiesWhat 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.