Lauderdale Co School Dist

Every figure on PlainSchools is rendered directly from the source NCES, CRDC and F-33 federal records, no number is typed in by an editor. District totals are aggregated directly from the schools reporting under this district in the source records. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of June 2026.

Meridian, Mississippi - 11 schools

An equity score of 32/100 ranks Lauderdale Co School Dist #119 of 146 districts in Mississippi (state average 51). Derived live from how evenly resources are distributed across the district's schools.

At $10,345 per pupil, Lauderdale Co School Dist ranks #104 of 147 Mississippi districts by per-pupil spending (Mississippi districts). NCES F-33 finance data.

5,910
Total Enrollment
11
Schools
$10,345
Per-Pupil Spending
Combined, High
School Types

District-Level NCES Analysis

Lauderdale Co School Dist operates 11 public schools serving 5,910 students, placing it among the smaller districts in Mississippi. The school portfolio breaks down into 5 combined, 3 high, 3 elementary schools, a compact enough portfolio that families can compare every campus directly before they move, rent, or enrol. These enrollment and school figures come from the NCES Common Core of Data (CCD) 2024-25 release, and the district is based in Lauderdale County.

Per-pupil expenditure runs $10,345 according to the NCES F-33 School District Finance Survey, in the lower half of 147 Mississippi districts by per-pupil spending. See how Mississippi compares in our national per-pupil spending analysis. The funding mix is 30.1% local, 50.9% state, and 19.0% federal, a state-revenue-heavy mix that insulates the district somewhat from local property-tax volatility, though it ties funding to state budget cycles. The district's equity score is 32/100, ranked #119 of 146 in Mississippi against a state average of 51, notably less even than the typical district in the state for how evenly funding reaches its schools.

Academic infrastructure includes 4 of 11 schools offering Advanced Placement (16 AP courses district-wide), a 540:1 student-counselor ratio, above both the ASCA benchmark and the roughly 408:1 national average, and 31.9% chronic absenteeism from the 2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection. Demographically, the student body averages 59.4% White, 31.1% African American, 3.7% Hispanic or Latino across the district's schools. Its most demographically mixed campus is Northeast Lauderdale Middle School, with a diversity index of 56.6/100.

Its largest campus is West Lauderdale Elementary School, enrolling 761 students (13% of the district's total enrollment).

Lauderdale Co School Dist school enrollment varies 2.1× across entities

Lauderdale Co School Dist school enrollment ranges from 367 students (lowest) to 761 students (highest), a spread of 394 students. That relatively narrow ratio reflects an unusually homogeneous campus portfolio, most districts have a wider mix of school sizes. Per-school staffing ratios, programme availability, and capital-renovation cycles often diverge inside the same district based on enrollment shape.

Source: NCES Common Core of Data NCES Common Core of Data

Lauderdale Co School Dist student-counselor ratio is 540:1 — well above typical (typically associated with unusually large scale or acute resource constraints)

student-counselor ratio is the simplest comparative metric but it does not capture the full picture: the ratio counts FTE counselors against total enrollment, districts that contract intervention or social-emotional staff outside the counselor classification may be under-counted Values this far above typical often signal acute resource constraints or a structurally different scale than most peers — worth reading alongside the underlying counts, not the ratio alone.

Source: NCES Civil Rights Data Collection NCES Civil Rights Data Collection

Lauderdale Co School Dist chronic absenteeism rate is 31.9% — high (typically associated with higher-than-average disruption; recent CRDC data showed elevated rates persisting after pandemic-era schooling changes)

chronic absenteeism rate is the simplest comparative metric but it does not capture the full picture: a student is chronically absent if they miss ≥10% of enrolled days for any reason, illness, family obligations, or disengagement Higher values may reflect larger urban scale or recent resource constraints that have widened the gap.

Source: NCES Civil Rights Data Collection 2021-22 NCES Civil Rights Data Collection 2021-22

Where does the funding come from?

19.0%
Federal
50.9%
State
30.1%
Local

Funding Equity

32
Equity Score
119 / 146
State Rank
51
State Average

This district scores below average on funding equity. High reliance on local revenue or lower spending may contribute.

Student Demographics

Average demographic composition across 11 schools in Lauderdale Co School Dist.

White 59.4%
Hispanic or Latino 3.7%
African American 31.1%
Asian 0.9%
Multiracial 4.8%

Source: NCES CCD School Membership 2024-25.

Student-body diversity

Average diversity index 47.2/100

Average Simpson diversity index across Lauderdale Co School Dist's schools, above the Mississippi average of 41.1.

Most mixed schools

  1. 1 Northeast Lauderdale Middle School 56.6
  2. 2 Northeast Lauderdale High School 55.7
  3. 3 Southeast Lauderdale Middle School 55.1
  4. 4 Northeast Lauderdale Elementary 54.6
  5. 5 Southeast Lauderdale High School 54.1

Programs & Resources

4 / 11
Schools with AP
16 AP courses total
540:1
Student-Counselor Ratio
31.9%
Chronically Absent

Source: NCES Civil Rights Data Collection (CRDC) 2021-22.

Schools in Lauderdale Co School Dist

School Enrollment
West Lauderdale Elementary School
761
Northeast Lauderdale Elementary
730
Northeast Lauderdale High School
608
Southeast Lauderdale Elementary
562
West Lauderdale Middle School
537
West Lauderdale High School
535
Clarkdale Elementary School
527
Northeast Lauderdale Middle School
520
Clarkdale High School
422
Southeast Lauderdale Middle School
371
Southeast Lauderdale High School
367

How Lauderdale Co School Dist Compares to Similar-Size Districts

The Mississippi districts closest to this one in total enrollment.

District Enrollment Spending Funding Mix
Ocean Springs School Dist Similar size Similar spending Similar funding mix
Biloxi Public School Dist Similar size Higher spending Similar funding mix
Gulfport School Dist Similar size Similar spending Similar funding mix
Lee County School District Similar size Similar spending Similar funding mix
Lowndes Co School Dist Similar size Similar spending More locally funded

Comparisons are relative to Lauderdale Co School Dist's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data and the F-33 Finance Survey.

Nearby Districts in Mississippi

Top districts in the same state, compare side-by-side for enrollment, spending, and demographics.

Desoto Co School Dist
35,003 students · 42 schools · $8,778/pupil
Compare vs Lauderdale Co School Dist →
Rankin Co School Dist
18,720 students · 28 schools · $10,533/pupil
Compare vs Lauderdale Co School Dist →
Jackson Public School District
18,710 students · 54 schools · $12,155/pupil
Compare vs Lauderdale Co School Dist →
Harrison Co School Dist
14,355 students · 24 schools · $10,042/pupil
Compare vs Lauderdale Co School Dist →
Madison Co School Dist
13,162 students · 23 schools · $11,127/pupil
Compare vs Lauderdale Co School Dist →

Compare Lauderdale Co School Dist

See how this district compares to others in enrollment, spending, demographics, and academic resources.

Compare vs Desoto Co School Dist →

Frequently Asked Questions

How many schools are in Lauderdale Co School Dist?

Lauderdale Co School Dist has 11 schools, including 5 combined, 3 high, 3 elementary. Total enrollment is 5,910 students.

How much does Lauderdale Co School Dist spend per student?

Lauderdale Co School Dist spends $10,345 per student. The district has an equity score of 32/100, ranking #119 in Mississippi.

What is the demographic composition of Lauderdale Co School Dist?

Lauderdale Co School Dist students are 59.4% White, 31.1% African American, 3.7% Hispanic or Latino, 0.9% Asian, averaged across 11 schools. Source: NCES CCD Membership 2024-25.

What is the equity score for Lauderdale Co School Dist?

Lauderdale Co School Dist has an equity score of 32/100, ranking #119 out of 146 districts in Mississippi.