Tupelo Public School District

Listed by NCES as Tupelo Public School Dist (district ID 2804320)

Public school district · Lee County · Mississippi · NCES district ID 2804320

Tupelo Public School District spent $13,155 per student on current operations in fiscal year 2022-23, more than 71% of the other Mississippi districts with at least 1,000 students in fall 2022 (median $12,203). Its 12 schools enrolled 7,192 students in 2024-25; 41.8% of its revenue came from the state. Census Bureau figures for 2023-24 put it at $12,743 per student, down 3.1% on the year before (U.S. $17,619 that year). Its four-year graduation rate for the class of 2023 was 88% (Mississippi: 89.4%).

Spending per student among Mississippi's largest districts

Current spending per student excludes construction and debt. Among the 10 districts shown, Tupelo ranks 3.

Current spending per student, largest Mississippi districts, FY23Vicksburg Warren School Dist $13,723; Jackson $13,713; Tupelo $13,155; Madison County Schools $12,248; Rankin County $11,323; Harrison County $11,305; Lamar County Schools $11,188; Jackson Co School Dist $10,899; Jones County $9,972; DeSoto County Schools $9,525; State median, 1,000+ students $12,203.8k10k12k14kVicksburg Warren School Dist$13,723Jackson$13,713Tupelo$13,155Madison County Schools$12,248Rankin County$11,323Harrison County$11,305Lamar County Schools$11,188Jackson Co School Dist$10,899Jones County$9,972DeSoto County Schools$9,525State median, 1,000+ students $12,203
Current spending per student, largest Mississippi districts, FY23Vicksburg Warren School Dist $13,723; Jackson $13,713; Tupelo $13,155; Madison County Schools $12,248; Rankin County $11,323; Harrison County $11,305; Lamar County Schools $11,188; Jackson Co School Dist $10,899; Jones County $9,972; DeSoto County Schools $9,525; State median, 1,000+ students $12,203.8k10k12k14kVicksburg Warren School Dist$13,723Jackson$13,713Tupelo$13,155Madison County Schools$12,248Rankin County$11,323Harrison County$11,305Lamar County Schools$11,188Jackson Co School Dist$10,899Jones County$9,972DeSoto County Schools$9,525State median, 1,000+ students $12,203
Current spending per student, largest Mississippi districts, FY23Vicksburg Warren School Dist $13,723; Jackson $13,713; Tupelo $13,155; Madison County Schools $12,248; Rankin County $11,323; Harrison County $11,305; Lamar County Schools $11,188; Jackson Co School Dist $10,899; Jones County $9,972; DeSoto County Schools $9,525; State median, 1,000+ students $12,203.8k10k12k14kVicksburg Warren School Dist$13,723Jackson$13,713Tupelo$13,155Madison County Schools$12,248Rankin County$11,323Harrison County$11,305Lamar County Schools$11,188Jackson Co School Dist$10,899Jones County$9,972DeSoto County Schools$9,525State median, 1,000+ students $12,203
Current spending per student, largest Mississippi districts, FY23Vicksburg Warren School Dist $13,723; Jackson $13,713; Tupelo $13,155; Madison County Schools $12,248; Rankin County $11,323; Harrison County $11,305; Lamar County Schools $11,188; Jackson Co School Dist $10,899; Jones County $9,972; DeSoto County Schools $9,525; State median, 1,000+ students $12,203.8k10k12k14kVicksburg Warren School Dist$13,723Jackson$13,713Tupelo$13,155Madison County Schools$12,248Rankin County$11,323Harrison County$11,305Lamar County Schools$11,188Jackson Co School Dist$10,899Jones County$9,972DeSoto County Schools$9,525State median, 1,000+ students $12,203

Where the money came from

$102,209,000 in revenue: 41.8% state, 39.6% local and 18.6% federal. Total spending including $8,871,000 of capital outlay was $103,742,000, or $14,546 per student; the figure above leaves capital out.

Tupelo Public School District revenue by source, fiscal year 2022-23State $42,724,000; Local $40,494,000; Federal $18,991,000; total $102,209,000.
  • State$42,724,000 42%
  • Local$40,494,000 40%
  • Federal$18,991,000 19%

Source: NCES F-33 school district finance survey, fiscal year 2022-23: current expenditures for elementary and secondary education divided by fall membership; the state median covers 112 districts with at least 1,000 students in fall 2022. Revenue by source (TOTALREV, TFEDREV, TSTREV, TLOCREV).

Enrollment held steady from 2022-23 to 2024-25

7,132 students in 2022-23, 7,134 students in 2023-24, 7,192 students in 2024-25, counted across the schools that reported each year.

Tupelo Public School District enrollment by school year2022-23: 7,132, 2023-24: 7,134, 2024-25: 7,19202k4k6k8k2022-237,1322023-247,1342024-257,192
Tupelo Public School District enrollment by school year2022-23: 7,132, 2023-24: 7,134, 2024-25: 7,19202k4k6k8k2022-237,1322023-247,1342024-257,192
Tupelo Public School District enrollment by school year2022-23: 7,132, 2023-24: 7,134, 2024-25: 7,19202k4k6k8k2022-237,1322023-247,1342024-257,192
Tupelo Public School District enrollment by school year2022-23: 7,132, 2023-24: 7,134, 2024-25: 7,19202k4k6k8k2022-237,1322023-247,1342024-257,192

Teachers and students per teacher

School yearStudentsTeachers (FTE)Per teacher
2022-237,132569.912.5
2023-247,134574.312.4
2024-257,192534.013.5

Source: NCES Common Core of Data membership and staff files, 2022-23, 2023-24, 2024-25; sums over the schools reporting each year.

$29,003,000 in teacher salaries in fiscal year 2022-23, $4,067 per student

Tupelo Public School District booked $29,003,000 of teacher salaries in its 2022-23 finance report and counted 589 full-time teachers in its Common Core of Data district staff file for 2022-23 (the school files behind the staffing figures on this page count teachers separately, so the two can differ), or $49,249 of salary spending per teacher. That is more than 28 in 100 Mississippi districts with a figure (state median $51,076, 146 districts). It is spending, not what a teacher is paid: the salary lines and the teacher count come from different files, so the result can differ widely from the average salary the district publishes (its salary schedule gives pay); benefits are left out, and states book salaries differently, so compare districts within one state. For pay, the National Education Association put the average Mississippi teacher salary at $47,162 in 2021-22 (NCES Digest table 211.60).

ProgramTeacher salariesShare
Regular programs$21,055,00072.6%
Special education$4,638,00016.0%
Vocational$1,217,0004.2%
Other programs$2,093,0007.2%

Teacher salaries per student, fiscal years 2018-19 to 2022-23

The district's teacher salary bill divided by its fall enrollment each year: $3,161 in 2018-19, $3,375 in 2019-20, $3,425 in 2020-21, $3,588 in 2021-22, $4,067 in 2022-23.

Tupelo Public School District teacher salaries per student by fiscal year2018-19: $3,161, 2019-20: $3,375, 2020-21: $3,425, 2021-22: $3,588, 2022-23: $4,06702k4k6k2018-19$3,1612019-20$3,3752020-21$3,4252021-22$3,5882022-23$4,067
Tupelo Public School District teacher salaries per student by fiscal year2018-19: $3,161, 2019-20: $3,375, 2020-21: $3,425, 2021-22: $3,588, 2022-23: $4,06702k4k6k2018-19$3,1612019-20$3,3752020-21$3,4252021-22$3,5882022-23$4,067
Tupelo Public School District teacher salaries per student by fiscal year2018-19: $3,161, 2019-20: $3,375, 2020-21: $3,425, 2021-22: $3,588, 2022-23: $4,06702k4k6k2018-19$3,1612019-20$3,3752020-21$3,4252021-22$3,5882022-23$4,067
Tupelo Public School District teacher salaries per student by fiscal year2018-19: $3,161, 2019-20: $3,375, 2020-21: $3,425, 2021-22: $3,588, 2022-23: $4,06702k4k6k2018-19$3,1612019-20$3,3752020-21$3,4252021-22$3,5882022-23$4,067

Source: NCES F-33 school district finance survey, fiscal years 2019 to 2023: teacher salaries in regular, special, vocational and other programs (Z35 to Z38) and fall membership (V33); NCES Common Core of Data LEA staff file 2022-23, teachers (full-time equivalent).

State test results, 2021-22

In 2021-22, the students tested in Tupelo Public School District scored proficient or above: 48% in reading and 57% in math, against 41.7% in reading and 47% in math across Mississippi. Each state writes its own test and sets its own proficiency bar, so compare these within Mississippi, not across states.

Students proficient or above, 2021-22
SubjectThis districtMississippiStudents tested
Reading and language arts48%41.7%3,546
Math57%47%3,643

Source: U.S. Department of Education, EDFacts state assessment results 2021-22, all students, from ED Data Express (the Data Rescue Project archive; ED has no 2022-23 result for this district): ED shows district results as ranges (for example 20-24%) to protect small groups.

Graduation rate, class of 2023

88% of the 497 students in Tupelo Public School District's class of 2023 graduated within four years, against 89.4% across Mississippi. The four-year rate follows the students who started ninth grade in fall 2019, adjusted for those who moved in or out, and counts those who earned a regular diploma by 2023. Every state computes it the same way under federal law, though each sets its own diploma requirements.

Four-year adjusted-cohort graduation rate, class of 2023
This districtMississippi
Four-year graduation rate88%89.4%
Students in the class49731,998

Source: U.S. Department of Education, EDFacts four-year adjusted-cohort graduation rates 2022-23, all students, from ED Data Express: ED shows district rates as ranges (for example 90-94%) and leaves out small classes.

8 elementary schools, 3,221 students

SchoolStudentsPer teacherFree lunchTitle I, 2021‑22
Lawhon Elementary School57514.465.4%Schoolwide program
Joyner Elementary School44414.161.9%Schoolwide program
Parkway Elementary School41813.166.0%Schoolwide program
Lawndale Elementary School37811.668.3%Schoolwide program
Rankin Elementary School37512.760.3%Schoolwide program
Thomas Street Elementary School37413.158.6%Schoolwide program
Pierce Street Elementary School34511.355.9%Schoolwide program
Carver Elementary School31213.669.9%Schoolwide program

Source: NCES Common Core of Data 2024-25; Title I status CCD 2021-22, the last year NCES published it. All free (CEP): every student eats free under the Community Eligibility Provision, so the school reports no free-lunch count; not reported: the school sent NCES no meal count.

2 middle schools, 1,526 students

SchoolStudentsPer teacherFree lunchTitle I, 2021‑22
Tupelo Middle School1,07013.957.9%Eligible, no program
Milam Elementary School45612.459.0%Eligible, no program

Source: NCES Common Core of Data 2024-25; Title I status CCD 2021-22, the last year NCES published it. All free (CEP): every student eats free under the Community Eligibility Provision, so the school reports no free-lunch count; not reported: the school sent NCES no meal count.

1 high school, 2,123 students

SchoolStudentsPer teacherFree lunchTitle I, 2021‑22
Tupelo High School2,12313.952.5%Eligible, no program

Source: NCES Common Core of Data 2024-25; Title I status CCD 2021-22, the last year NCES published it. All free (CEP): every student eats free under the Community Eligibility Provision, so the school reports no free-lunch count; not reported: the school sent NCES no meal count.

1 other school, 322 students

SchoolStudentsPer teacherFree lunchTitle I, 2021‑22
Early Childhood Education Center32216.549.4%Not Title I

Source: NCES Common Core of Data 2024-25; Title I status CCD 2021-22, the last year NCES published it. All free (CEP): every student eats free under the Community Eligibility Provision, so the school reports no free-lunch count; not reported: the school sent NCES no meal count.

Contact Tupelo Public School District

Source: NCES Common Core of Data, local education agency directory 2024-25. Enrollment, boundaries and school assignment are the district's to confirm.

What to look at next about Tupelo Public School District

  1. Mississippi districts by spending per studentTupelo Public School District ranks 33 of 112 Mississippi districts with at least 1,000 students in fall 2022 on current spending per student in fiscal year 2022-23 ($13,155).#33 of 112
  2. Every school district in MississippiTupelo Public School District is the number 9 by size of 152 Mississippi districts, with 7,132 students in fall 2022 (F-33).#9 of 152
  3. Jones County School DistrictThe next larger Mississippi district: 8,524 students in fall 2022, $9,972 per student in fiscal year 2022-23.$9,972
  4. Vicksburg Warren School DistThe next smaller Mississippi district: 6,862 students in fall 2022, $13,723 per student in fiscal year 2022-23.$13,723
  5. Compare Tupelo Public School District with Jones County School DistrictEnrollment, spending, revenue sources and schools, side by side.
  6. Tupelo High School, its largest high school2,123 students in 2024-25, 13.9 per teacher.2,123
  7. Teacher salary spending across MississippiTupelo Public School District spent $49,249 in salaries per full-time teacher in fiscal year 2022-23 (state median $51,076); spending, not a salary.$49,249
  8. Find the school district for an addressA home's district decides which public schools it can enroll in.

Source: NCES F-33 finance survey, fiscal year 2022-23 (spending per student and fall 2022 membership; ranks among the state's districts that reported them); NCES Common Core of Data 2024-25 (schools).

Questions about Tupelo Public School District

  1. How many schools and students are in Tupelo Public School District?
    12 schools were open in 2024-25 (8 elementary, 2 middle, 1 high, 1 other), enrolling 7,192 students, according to the NCES Common Core of Data.
  2. How much does Tupelo Public School District spend per student?
    $13,155 per student on current operations in fiscal year 2022-23 (NCES F-33), which leaves out construction and debt; the Mississippi median for districts with at least 1,000 students in fall 2022 is $12,203 and the U.S. figure is $16,260. Census Bureau figures for 2023-24 put it at $12,743 per student, down 3.1% on the year before (U.S. $17,619 that year).
  3. Where does Tupelo Public School District's money come from?
    $102,209,000 in revenue in fiscal year 2022-23: 41.8% state, 39.6% local and 18.6% federal (NCES F-33).
  4. How many children in Tupelo Public School District live in poverty?
    The Census Bureau estimates that 1,717 of the 7,213 children aged 5 to 17 living within the district's boundaries in 2024, 23.8%, were in families in poverty (Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates). It is a model-based estimate for everyone living in the district, not a count of its students; the free-meal shares in the school tables are counts of enrolled students.
  5. How much does Tupelo Public School District spend on teacher salaries?
    $29,003,000 in fiscal year 2022-23 (NCES F-33), or $4,067 per student. Divided by the 589 full-time teachers in the NCES Common Core of Data for 2022-23 that is $49,249 per teacher, more than 28 in 100 Mississippi districts (state median $51,076). That is spending, not what a teacher is paid: the salary lines and the teacher count come from different files, and the result can differ widely from the average salary a district publishes. The district's salary schedule gives pay. For pay, the National Education Association put the average Mississippi teacher salary at $47,162 in 2021-22 (NCES Digest table 211.60).
  6. How do students in Tupelo Public School District do on state tests?
    In 2021-22, the students tested in Tupelo Public School District scored proficient or above: 48% in reading and 57% in math, against 41.7% in reading and 47% in math across Mississippi. Mississippi's own test sets what proficient means, so results compare within the state, not across states. Source: U.S. Department of Education, EDFacts state assessment results, 2021-22.
  7. What is the graduation rate in Tupelo Public School District?
    88% of the 497 students in Tupelo Public School District's class of 2023 graduated within four years, against 89.4% across Mississippi. The four-year rate follows the students who started ninth grade in fall 2019, adjusted for those who moved in or out. Source: U.S. Department of Education, EDFacts four-year adjusted-cohort graduation rates, 2022-23.
  8. What is Tupelo Public School District's NCES district ID?
    2804320. Each of its schools' 12-digit NCES IDs begins with these seven digits.

Reading these figures: how to choose a school district, what Title I means and what an absenteeism rate means. They are for information and are not a substitute for the school's or district's own records.

Sources

Every federal file behind this record
  • NCES Common Core of Data, 2024-25: directory, membership, staff and lunch files. nces.ed.gov
  • NCES Common Core of Data, 2021-22 school characteristics: Title I status. nces.ed.gov
  • Civil Rights Data Collection, 2021-22: AP courses, gifted programs, counselors, discipline. civilrightsdata.ed.gov
  • EDFacts, 2022-23: chronic absenteeism. ed.gov
  • EDFacts four-year adjusted-cohort graduation rates, 2022-23: the class of 2023 for the district and its state (ED Data Express). eddataexpress.ed.gov
  • EDFacts state assessment results, 2021-22: reading and math proficiency for the district and its state (ED Data Express). eddataexpress.ed.gov
  • NCES Digest of Education Statistics, table 211.60 (2021-22): the state's average teacher salary, from the National Education Association. nces.ed.gov
  • U.S. Census Bureau, Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates, 2024: children aged 5 to 17 and those in families in poverty, by school district. census.gov
  • U.S. Census Bureau, Annual Survey of School System Finances, fiscal year 2023-24: per pupil current spending for 2023-24 and 2022-23. census.gov
  • NCES F-33 School District Finance Survey, fiscal year 2022-23: district spending and revenue. nces.ed.gov
  • U.S. Census Bureau geocoder and TIGER school districts: the district boundary used by the district finder. census.gov

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Annual Survey of School System Finances Per pupil current spending by school system · FY 2023-24

Source: NCES F-33 School District Finance Survey Revenue and expenditures by district · FY 2022-23

Source: NCES Common Core of Data School directory, membership, staff and lunch files · 2024-25