Can I use Lowndes County's school score to choose a house?

No. Use the Lowndes County school score as a first-pass county screen, then verify the exact district, attendance boundary, transfer rules, and grade pathway for any address you are considering.

Does SchoolsByCounty confirm school attendance boundaries in Lowndes County?

No. SchoolsByCounty publishes NCES and Census-backed public-school records. Attendance zones, magnet eligibility, charter lotteries, transportation, and transfer rules must be confirmed with local districts.

How should parents compare public schools in Lowndes County?

Start with the 20 listed public schools and 3 district entries, then compare similar grade bands and confirm the address-level rules locally.

Lowndes County Schools & Education

Name: Lowndes County, Mississippi Education Data
Creator: National Center for Education Statistics (NCES)
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/

Lowndes County, Mississippi

NCES 2022-23 public school data and FY 2022 school-finance data

School Score

25/100

Percentile-style score

Score Band

Lower Signal

Graduation Rate

87.9%

National avg 87.5%

Education Statistics

Graduation Rate

87.9%

National avg 87.5%

State avg 87.1%

Per-Pupil Spending

$5,860

National avg $13,239

State avg $5,954

School Score

25/100

Percentile-style score

State avg 27/100

State Score Position

#42

of 81 counties by score

Education Data Brief: Lowndes County

Measured School Summary

Lowndes County faces educational challenges with a school score of 25/100 and a graduation rate of 87.9%, falling below typical benchmarks.

Funding Context

At $5,860 per pupil, Lowndes County operates with limited funding, which may constrain staffing, materials, and extracurricular offerings.

Neighbor Context

Its school score is 8% below the Mississippi average, and its graduation rate exceeds the state average by 0.8 percentage points, while per-pupil spending is 2% lower than the state norm.

School Data Brief

How to read Lowndes County before comparing districts

County-level education data is best used as a screening layer. It summarizes the local school environment, then points you toward the district and school records that matter for local review.

Local context that changes the interpretation

20 public schools and 3 districts are represented below. Use those school and district records to confirm whether the county-level context fits the neighborhoods you are actually considering.

Overall screen

25/100

Lower measured signal. Ranks #42 of 81 Mississippi counties with school score data.

Completion

87.9%

0.8 pts above the state average

Funding context

$5,860

$94 below the state average

School coverage

3 districts represented in the county school list.

Start with measured county context

The county-level signal is lower, so review individual schools and local records before interpreting the score. Compare the score, graduation rate, and spending together rather than treating any single metric as final.

Check the local school mix

Lowndes County has 20 public schools across 3 districts, so school-level fit can vary inside the county.

Verify local rules

Use this page as county-level context, then confirm attendance zones, transportation, special programs, and current school boundaries with local districts.

View Public Schools Compare Counties

Parent decision brief

What Lowndes County school data means before you move

County averages are useful for screening, but parents choose addresses, grade pathways, and district rules. This brief turns the public data into the checks that matter before you sign a lease or mortgage.

Review-carefully county

Lowndes County has a lower measured county-level school signal. Use the school table to look for specific districts or grade bands that may differ from the county average.

State position

#42

of 81 Mississippi counties with school score data. The county score is 2 points below the state average.

Data confidence

Usable

3 of 5 county signals are present, and 100% of listed schools report enrollment. Compare schools, then verify missing fields locally.

K-12 continuity check

These are the largest visible district slices in the county data. They show whether elementary, middle, and high school records appear together or whether a family needs to investigate transition points.

LOWNDES CO SCHOOL DIST

Elementary to high school visible

5,261 students

Elementary 3Middle 2High 4Other 1

10 listed schools in this county slice.

COLUMBUS MUNICIPAL SCHOOL DIST

Elementary to high school visible

3,090 students

Elementary 5Middle 1High 2Other 1

9 listed schools in this county slice.

MS SCHOOL FOR MATH AND SCIENCE

High school only in this slice

231 students

Elementary 0Middle 0High 1Other 0

1 listed school in this county slice.

District reality check

LOWNDES CO SCHOOL DIST is the largest listed district slice, with 10 schools. County pages do not prove address assignment, so verify boundaries with local district tools.

What the data cannot tell you

NCES records do not confirm current attendance zones, private-school options, transfer approvals, program capacity, transportation, or whether a listed school is available to a specific address.

Questions to ask before choosing an address

Which district actually serves the addresses we are considering in Lowndes County?

Do the neighborhoods we like fall inside the same district, or are we comparing different Lowndes County district systems?

What changes at the elementary-to-middle and middle-to-high transitions in the district pathway we would likely use?

If we need a program not visible in the NCES flags, which district office can confirm current offerings?

Are the largest listed schools the ones our address can actually attend, or are they only county-level context?

Education Overview

About Schools in Lowndes County, Mississippi

This context is screened for neutral school-data wording and should be read alongside the current metrics on this page. It is not school advice.

Mapping the Schools of Lowndes County

Lowndes County features a robust network of 20 public schools serving a total of 8,582 students. The infrastructure includes eight elementary schools, three middle schools, and seven high schools across three districts. This system provides a comprehensive educational framework for one of the region's larger student populations.

Lowndes County and Columbus Municipal Districts

The Lowndes County School District is the area's largest, serving 5,261 students across 10 schools. The Columbus Municipal School District also plays a major role, managing nine schools and 3,090 students. Additionally, the Mississippi School for Math and Science provides an elite environment for 231 high-achieving students.

A Blend of Large Elementary and Town Schools

The area's schools are primarily located in town settings, though six campuses serve rural parts of the county. Large campuses define the local experience, with New Hope Elementary and Caledonia Elementary each enrolling over 1,000 students. The average school size is 536 students, ensuring a social and diverse learning environment.

School Overview

Total Schools

in Lowndes County

Reported Enrollment

8,582

20 schools reporting

School Districts

districts

Charter Schools

0% of total

School Level Breakdown

Elementary8

Middle3

High7

Other2

3 School Districts in Lowndes County

LOWNDES CO SCHOOL DIST

COLUMBUS MUNICIPAL SCHOOL DIST

9 schools

3,090 students

MS SCHOOL FOR MATH AND SCIENCE

1 school

231 students

20 Public Schools in Lowndes County

Sorted by reported enrollment. Dedicated profile pages are available for 2 high-enrollment schools; every NCES public school remains listed here.

NCES 2022-23 public school data and FY 2022 school-finance data

Search schools

Level

Sort

Showing 20 of 20 matching schools

Public schools in Lowndes County, including district, location, profile availability, grades, type, and enrollment.
School Name	Profile	District	Location	Grades	Type / Flags	Reported Enrollment
NEW HOPE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL	Profile	LOWNDES CO SCHOOL DIST	COLUMBUS, 39702Town: Remote	PK–5	Primary	1,151
CALEDONIA ELEMENTARY SCHOOL	Profile	LOWNDES CO SCHOOL DIST	CALEDONIA, 39740Rural: Distant	PK–5	Primary	1,060
COLUMBUS HIGH SCHOOL	Record	COLUMBUS MUNICIPAL SCHOOL DIST	COLUMBUS, 39702Town: Remote	9–12	High	898
NEW HOPE HIGH SCHOOL	Record	LOWNDES CO SCHOOL DIST	COLUMBUS, 39702Town: Remote	9–12	High	807
COLUMBUS MIDDLE SCHOOL	Record	COLUMBUS MUNICIPAL SCHOOL DIST	Columbus, 39705Rural: Fringe	6–8	Middle	667
CALEDONIA HIGH SCHOOL	Record	LOWNDES CO SCHOOL DIST	CALEDONIA, 39740Rural: Distant	9–12	High	652
NEW HOPE MIDDLE SCHOOL	Record	LOWNDES CO SCHOOL DIST	COLUMBUS, 39702Town: Remote	6–8	Middle	613
CALEDONIA MIDDLE SCHOOL	Record	LOWNDES CO SCHOOL DIST	CALEDONIA, 39740Rural: Distant	6–8	Middle	498
COOK ELEMENTARY SCHOOL	Record	COLUMBUS MUNICIPAL SCHOOL DIST	COLUMBUS, 39705Town: Remote	PK–5	Primary	388
STOKES BEARD ELEMENTARY SCHOOL	Record	COLUMBUS MUNICIPAL SCHOOL DIST	COLUMBUS, 39701Town: Remote	PK–5	Primary	365
SALE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL	Record	COLUMBUS MUNICIPAL SCHOOL DIST	COLUMBUS, 39702Town: Remote	PK–5	Primary	275
FRANKLIN ACADEMY	Record	COLUMBUS MUNICIPAL SCHOOL DIST	COLUMBUS, 39701Town: Remote	PK–5	Primary	261
WEST LOWNDES HIGH SCHOOL	Record	LOWNDES CO SCHOOL DIST	COLUMBUS, 39701Rural: Distant	7–12	High	246
FAIRVIEW ELEMENTARY SCHOOL	Record	COLUMBUS MUNICIPAL SCHOOL DIST	COLUMBUS, 39702Town: Remote	PK–5	Primary	236
WEST LOWNDES ELEMENTARY	Record	LOWNDES CO SCHOOL DIST	COLUMBUS, 39701Rural: Distant	PK–6	Primary	234
MS SCHOOL FOR MATH AND SCIENCE	Record	MS SCHOOL FOR MATH AND SCIENCE	COLUMBUS, 39701Town: Remote	11–12	High	231
CMSD ALTERNATIVE SCHOOL	Record	COLUMBUS MUNICIPAL SCHOOL DIST	COLUMBUS, 39701Town: Remote	KG–12	Alternative	0
LOWNDES CO VOC COMPLEX	Record	LOWNDES CO SCHOOL DIST	COLUMBUS, 39702Town: Remote	9–12	Vocational	0
LOWNDES COUNTY ALTERNATIVE SCHOOL	Record	LOWNDES CO SCHOOL DIST	Columbus, 39702Town: Remote	PK–12	Alternative	0
MCKELLAR VOCATIONAL CENTER	Record	COLUMBUS MUNICIPAL SCHOOL DIST	COLUMBUS, 39702Town: Remote	9–12	Vocational	0

NEW HOPE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

LOWNDES CO SCHOOL DIST

COLUMBUS, 39702 / Town: Remote

ProfilePK–5Primary1,151 students

CALEDONIA ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

LOWNDES CO SCHOOL DIST

CALEDONIA, 39740 / Rural: Distant

ProfilePK–5Primary1,060 students

COLUMBUS HIGH SCHOOL

COLUMBUS MUNICIPAL SCHOOL DIST

COLUMBUS, 39702 / Town: Remote

Record9–12High898 students

NEW HOPE HIGH SCHOOL

LOWNDES CO SCHOOL DIST

COLUMBUS, 39702 / Town: Remote

Record9–12High807 students

COLUMBUS MIDDLE SCHOOL

COLUMBUS MUNICIPAL SCHOOL DIST

Columbus, 39705 / Rural: Fringe

Record6–8Middle667 students

CALEDONIA HIGH SCHOOL

LOWNDES CO SCHOOL DIST

CALEDONIA, 39740 / Rural: Distant

Record9–12High652 students

NEW HOPE MIDDLE SCHOOL

LOWNDES CO SCHOOL DIST

COLUMBUS, 39702 / Town: Remote

Record6–8Middle613 students

CALEDONIA MIDDLE SCHOOL

LOWNDES CO SCHOOL DIST

CALEDONIA, 39740 / Rural: Distant

Record6–8Middle498 students

COOK ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

COLUMBUS MUNICIPAL SCHOOL DIST

COLUMBUS, 39705 / Town: Remote

RecordPK–5Primary388 students

STOKES BEARD ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

COLUMBUS MUNICIPAL SCHOOL DIST

COLUMBUS, 39701 / Town: Remote

RecordPK–5Primary365 students

SALE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

COLUMBUS MUNICIPAL SCHOOL DIST

COLUMBUS, 39702 / Town: Remote

RecordPK–5Primary275 students

FRANKLIN ACADEMY

COLUMBUS MUNICIPAL SCHOOL DIST

COLUMBUS, 39701 / Town: Remote

RecordPK–5Primary261 students

WEST LOWNDES HIGH SCHOOL

LOWNDES CO SCHOOL DIST

COLUMBUS, 39701 / Rural: Distant

Record7–12High246 students

FAIRVIEW ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

COLUMBUS MUNICIPAL SCHOOL DIST

COLUMBUS, 39702 / Town: Remote

RecordPK–5Primary236 students

WEST LOWNDES ELEMENTARY

LOWNDES CO SCHOOL DIST

COLUMBUS, 39701 / Rural: Distant

RecordPK–6Primary234 students

MS SCHOOL FOR MATH AND SCIENCE

COLUMBUS, 39701 / Town: Remote

Record11–12High231 students

CMSD ALTERNATIVE SCHOOL

COLUMBUS MUNICIPAL SCHOOL DIST

COLUMBUS, 39701 / Town: Remote

RecordKG–12Alternative0 students

LOWNDES CO VOC COMPLEX

LOWNDES CO SCHOOL DIST

COLUMBUS, 39702 / Town: Remote

Record9–12Vocational0 students

LOWNDES COUNTY ALTERNATIVE SCHOOL

LOWNDES CO SCHOOL DIST

Columbus, 39702 / Town: Remote

RecordPK–12Alternative0 students

MCKELLAR VOCATIONAL CENTER

COLUMBUS MUNICIPAL SCHOOL DIST

COLUMBUS, 39702 / Town: Remote

Record9–12Vocational0 students

Education Funding Detail

Annual Per-Pupil Expenditure

$5,860

State avg $5,954

Compare Nearby Counties

Review Lowndes County against other counties using the same NCES-backed metrics.

Open Compare

Browse Public Schools

See school-level enrollment, grade ranges, school type, and district affiliation.

View Schools

Frequently Asked Questions

Which Mississippi counties have the highest graduation rates?

Holmes County (97.0%), Montgomery County (97.0%), and Quitman County (97.0%) currently lead Mississippi among counties with available NCES four-year adjusted cohort graduation-rate data. This answer is generated from the same dataset used in the county table and can change when federal data refreshes.

What is per-pupil spending like in Mississippi?

Across Mississippi counties with available NCES district-finance data, average per-pupil spending is $5,954. The highest current county values are Choctaw County ($8,216), Kemper County ($7,706), and Franklin County ($7,289). Compare counties in the table before treating the statewide average as representative of a local district.

How should I read the school score in Lowndes County?

Lowndes County has a school score of 25/100, which is a lower measured signal in this county-level index. This score is calculated from available NCES graduation-rate and school-finance data, with school-level records shown separately below.

What is the graduation rate in Lowndes County?

The high school graduation rate in Lowndes County is 87.9%, which is above the national average of 87.5%. This figure is based on NCES district-level data for public high schools in the county.

How much does Lowndes County spend per student?

Lowndes County spends $5,860 per pupil annually on public education, based on NCES district finance data. Current operating spending per fall enrollment, including instruction, support services, administration, transportation, and operations. It excludes capital outlays and debt service in the SchoolsByCounty methodology.

Frequently Asked Questions

Schools in Lowndes County, Mississippi — FAQ

What does the school system look like in Lowndes County, Mississippi?

What are the major school districts in Lowndes County, Mississippi?

What is the school experience like in Lowndes County?

Counties with Similar School Profile

Attala County

Mississippi

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Jones County

Mississippi

-0 pts

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School score

Chickasaw County

Mississippi

+1 pts

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School score

By Evan Brooks, Data EditorUpdated May 13, 2026Reviewed by Evan Brooks, Data Editor

Data Sources

Education data sourced from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) Common Core of Data and School District Finance Survey. School scores are derived composite metrics based on available NCES graduation-rate and school-finance signals.

Data is informational only. Coverage varies by county and reporting year. Not for use as the sole basis for educational decisions.

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