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Clarksdale, Mississippi downtown aerial viewPhoto: Quintin Soloviev · CC BY 4.0
D
Schools in Clarksdale · Coahoma County School District, Clarksdale Municipal School District

Clarksdale’s public schools score below 89% of Mississippi districts on tests and graduation

On the state math tests, 18% of Clarksdale’s students scored proficient, below the Mississippi average (47%). The grade covers the two public school districts serving Clarksdale, from kindergarten through graduation, on state tests and graduation. Each state writes its own tests, so this is the one TownRatings grade compared within Mississippi, not nationally.

#95of 101 Mississippi townsK–12Where will my kid go?

From Mississippi state tests taken in spring 2022, when 97% of students in the tested grades sat them, and the class of 2023’s four-year graduation rate, as reported to the U.S. Department of Education.

Reading proficiency
21%
▼ 21 pts vs MS 42%
2021–22
Math proficiency
18%
▼ 29 pts vs MS 47%
2021–22
Graduate on time
75–79%
▼ 10–14 pts vs MS 89%
class of 2023
Spent per student
$15.5K
▲ 25% vs MS $12.4K
FY2024 · Clarksdale Municipal
Students per teacher
15.5
MS 13.9 · larger classes
Schools in town
12
2,202 students on the public path
In brief

Clarksdale’s schools, in brief

Results trail the state

In spring 2022, 21% of tested students were proficient in reading and 18% in math, against 42% and 47% statewide; 97% of students in the tested grades sat the tests. The grade ↓

Graduation

75–79% of the class of 2023 graduated in four years, against 89% across Mississippi (the state reports Clarksdale’s rate as a range). Districts ↓

Spending and class size

Coahoma County spends $16,776 per student and Clarksdale Municipal $15,458, against $12,392 across Mississippi (FY2024). Neither counts toward the grade. Districts ↓

Choice beyond the district

Clarksdale Collegiate Public Charter School, Lee Academy (private), Presbyterian Day School (private) and St. Elizabeth Catholic School (private) are in town. Every school ↓

Written from the figures on this page. Tests are from 2021–22, graduation from the class of 2023; each school’s own letter uses 2020–21 results.

The School Grade

What’s behind Clarksdale’s grade

D Test scoresD− Graduation

D: better than 11% of Mississippi school districts, #95 of 101 Mississippi towns. Both inputs trail the Mississippi average; test scores are the closer of the two to typical.

Mississippi school districts we grade (150)Better than 11%
Lower resultsHigher results
Mississippi towns with similar household incomes (123)Better than 11%
D−CA fairly firm grade. Ordinary sampling error in 1,629 test results and a graduating class of 167 could put Clarksdale anywhere from D− to C. The tests are from spring 2022, when 97% of Clarksdale’s students in the tested grades sat them (1,575 in math, 1,682 in reading).

How TownRatings grades schools →

Where will my kid go?

Pick a grade. These are the public schools that serve Clarksdale, with each school’s own grade.

The path, start to finish
PK–43 elementary schoolsDepends on your addressD−
7–8W.A. Higgins Academy Of Arts/International StudiesClarksdale Municipal School DistrictC−
9–122 high schoolsDepends on your addressD to C−

Clarksdale runs its own schools through grade 12 (Clarksdale Municipal School District). From grade K, students attend the Coahoma County School District, shared with Coahoma, Friars Point, Jonestown, Lula and Lyon. To confirm the school for a specific address, ask the district.

Two districts serve Clarksdale

Spending and class size are shown but don’t count toward the grade. Each district’s own page has every school.

Coahoma County School DistrictGrades K–12 · 5 schools · 1,009 students, up 1% since 2020–21 · 13.5 per teacher (MS 13.9)
$16,776MS $12,392 · FY2024
C+
Clarksdale Municipal School DistrictGrades PK–12 · 7 schools · 1,857 students, down 5% since 2020–21 · 16.9 per teacher (MS 13.9)
$15,458MS $12,392 · FY2024
D−
Test scores · 2021–22

Well below the state in reading

Reading · K–12, Coahoma County School District30%
State average 41.7% · 612 students tested
Math · K–12, Coahoma County School District24%
State average 47% · 595 students tested
Reading · PK–12, Clarksdale Municipal School District16%
State average 41.7% · 1070 students tested
Math · PK–12, Clarksdale Municipal School District15%
State average 47% · 980 students tested

Clarksdale vs. its neighbors

Schools grades for the Mississippi towns that share Clarksdale’s borders.

Schools next door
TownSchoolsMain districts
ClarksdaleDClarksdale Municipal PK–12 · Coahoma County K–12
Lyon—Coahoma County

Every school in Clarksdale

12 schools. Each public school’s letter compares its own 2020–21 reading and math results with Mississippi’s other public schools (the newest school-level results we have).

District schools in Clarksdaleby address
George H. Oliver Visual/Performing Arts Magnet School
Elementary · Grades PK–4
D−
299 students19:1Rate it →
Kirkpatrick Health And Wellness Magnet School
Elementary · Grades PK–4
D−
266 students18:1Rate it →
Booker T. Washington International Studies Magnet School
Elementary · Grades PK–4
D−
247 students20:1Rate it →
Oakhurst Intermediate School
Middle · Grades 5–6
D
197 students16:1Rate it →
W.A. Higgins Academy Of Arts/International Studies
Middle · Grades 7–8
C−
269 students24:1Rate it →
Coahoma County High School
High · Grades 9–12
C−
345 students14:1Rate it →
J.W. Stampley 9th Grade Academy
Secondary · Grades 9
C−
106 students7:1Rate it →
Clarksdale High School
High · Grades 10–12
D
473 students17:1Rate it →
Charter schoolsfree, open by application
Clarksdale Collegiate Public Charter School
Elementary · Grades K–8
D−
Charter
652 students22:1Rate it →
Private schoolstuition; no state tests, so no grade
Lee Academy
High · Grades 7–12
Private · Nonsectarian
174 students9:1Rate it →
Presbyterian Day School
Elementary · Grades PK–6
Private · Religious
121 students9:1Rate it →
St. Elizabeth Catholic School
Elementary · Grades PK–6
Private · Catholic
117 students11:1Rate it →

Left off: 1 public program with fewer than 25 students (Carl Keen Voc).

Questions about Clarksdale’s schools

Are Clarksdale’s schools good?

On Mississippi’s tests they score below most of the state: the public schools Clarksdale children attend score below 89% of Mississippi’s school districts on tests and graduation, a D Schools grade, #95 of 101 Mississippi towns. Among towns with similar incomes they beat 11%. Tests are from 2021–22, graduation from the class of 2023.

What school district is Clarksdale in?

Two districts: Clarksdale Municipal School District runs grades PK–12, and Coahoma County School District runs grades K–12, shared with Coahoma, Friars Point, Jonestown, Lula and Lyon.

Where do Clarksdale kids go to high school?

One of 2 high schools, depending on your address: Clarksdale High School and Coahoma County High School.

What is Clarksdale’s graduation rate?

75–79% of the class of 2023 in Clarksdale Municipal School District graduated in four years, against 89% across Mississippi.

How much does Clarksdale spend per student?

$16,776 in Coahoma County School District and $15,458 in Clarksdale Municipal School District (FY2024), against $12,392 across Mississippi. Spending doesn’t count toward the grade.

Are there private schools in Clarksdale?

Yes: Lee Academy (nonsectarian, grades 7–12, 174 students), Presbyterian Day School (religious, grades PK–6, 121 students) and St. Elizabeth Catholic School (Catholic, grades PK–6, 117 students). Clarksdale also has 1 charter school, free and open by application.

Parents talk

What Clarksdale families are saying about school.

Town Square →
Start the conversation

Looking for colleges? Colleges near Clarksdale → They have their own page.

School data: state test results (2021–22, with participation) and four-year graduation rates (class of 2023) reported to the U.S. Department of Education (EDFacts via ED Data Express); each school’s own letter uses its 2020–21 results (EDFacts via the Urban Institute); schools and enrollment from NCES (2024–25; private schools 2023–24); spending from the Census Bureau’s school finance survey (FY2024). The School Grade is our own summary, graded within Mississippi. Stars are from neighbors.