SUNFLOWER CTY CONS SCHOOL DISTRICT

INDIANOLA, Mississippi — 11 schools

2,929
Total Enrollment
11
Schools
$14,264
Per-Pupil Spending
Elementary, Other
School Types

District-Level NCES Analysis

SUNFLOWER CTY CONS SCHOOL DISTRICT operates 11 public schools serving 2,929 students, placing it among the smaller districts in Mississippi. The school portfolio breaks down into 4 elementary, 3 other, 2 high, 2 middle schools, giving families a clear picture of grade-band coverage before they move, rent, or enrol. Aggregated across those campuses, enrollment totals 2,807 pupils using the NCES Common Core of Data (CCD) 2022-23 release, and the district is geographically located in Sunflower County County.

Per-pupil expenditure runs $14,264 according to the NCES F-33 School District Finance Survey, which aggregates every revenue and spending line reported under federal accounting standards. The funding mix is 30.2% local, 40.8% state, and 29.0% federal — a breakdown that matters because districts leaning heavily on local revenue are more exposed to property-tax swings, while higher federal shares typically track Title I concentration. Average teacher compensation clocks in at $57,882 per NCES F-33, a signal of the district's ability to recruit and retain staff against neighbouring districts. The district's equity score — 63/100, ranked #43 of 146 in Mississippi against a state average of 51 — measures how evenly funding reaches schools within its boundaries.

Academic infrastructure includes 1 of 11 schools offering Advanced Placement (2 AP courses district-wide), a 272.8:1 student-counselor ratio, above the 250:1 ASCA recommendation, and 31.8% chronic absenteeism from the 2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection. Demographically, the student body averages 93.8% African American, 2.7% Hispanic or Latino, 1.5% White across the district's schools.

Gentry High School accounts for 16.6% of all SUNFLOWER CTY CONS SCHOOL DISTRICT student enrollment

That concentration — well above the 8.4% national median for largest-entity share — means SUNFLOWER CTY CONS SCHOOL DISTRICT-wide averages can mask substantial variation outside the dominant entity. Grade band: high. A single dominant campus often anchors a district's program offerings and staffing patterns; the share helps explain why district-wide averages may not reflect the typical neighbourhood-school experience. When one entity dominates a region's footprint, its programmatic and budget decisions effectively set policy for a majority of the affected population.

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

SUNFLOWER CTY CONS SCHOOL DISTRICT school enrollment varies 5.9× across entities

SUNFLOWER CTY CONS SCHOOL DISTRICT school enrollment ranges from 79 students (lowest) to 465 students (highest), a spread of 386 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

SUNFLOWER CTY CONS SCHOOL DISTRICT has higher-than-average Title I eligibility — 100.0% of the population qualifies for free or reduced-price lunch

free or reduced-price lunch eligibility is the federal threshold for Title I funding allocations, established under the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA, 2015). Areas above 75% eligibility — including this one — receive concentration grants on top of the basic Title I formula. Regions with eligibility this high typically draw a substantially larger federal funding share relative to their local tax base, which can either offset or reinforce existing gaps depending on allocation policy.

Source: ESSA Title I Part A; ED EDFacts file system ESSA Title I Part A; ED EDFacts file system

SUNFLOWER CTY CONS SCHOOL DISTRICT student-counselor ratio is 273:1 — near the typical range (US average ~408) — within the typical range for U.S. public districts

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 Variation between sub-units within SUNFLOWER CTY CONS SCHOOL DISTRICT is typically wider than the SUNFLOWER CTY CONS SCHOOL DISTRICT-aggregate figure suggests.

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

SUNFLOWER CTY CONS SCHOOL DISTRICT chronic absenteeism rate is 31.8% — 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?

29.0%
Federal
40.8%
State
30.2%
Local

Funding Equity

63
Equity Score
43 / 146
State Rank
51
State Average

This district has moderate funding equity. There may be room to improve funding diversity or resource allocation.

Local Rent Costs

Fair Market Rents in Sunflower County county, where this district is located.

$581
Studio/mo
$642
1 BR/mo
$842
2 BR/mo
$1,136
3 BR/mo
$1,260
4 BR/mo

Average Teacher Salary

$57,882
Average annual teacher salary

Source: NCES CCD F-33 (Finance Survey).

Teacher salary data from NCES CCD F-33 Finance Survey.

Student Demographics

Average demographic composition across 11 schools in SUNFLOWER CTY CONS SCHOOL DISTRICT.

White 1.5%
Hispanic or Latino 2.7%
African American 93.8%
Multiracial 2.1%

Source: NCES CCD School Membership 2024-25.

Programs & Resources

1 / 11
Schools with AP
2 AP courses total
272.8:1
Student-Counselor Ratio
31.8%
Chronically Absent

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

Schools in SUNFLOWER CTY CONS SCHOOL DISTRICT

School Enrollment
Gentry High School
465
Lockard Elementary School
393
Robert L Merritt Junior High School
341
Thomas E. Edwards Sr. High School
331
Ruleville Central Elem School
271
Carver Elementary School
250
Moorhead Central School
245
A W James Elementary School
219
Ruleville Middle School
131
Drew Hunter Middle School
82
Rosser Early Learning Center
79

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 · $9,536/pupil
Compare vs SUNFLOWER CTY CONS SCHOOL DISTRICT →
RANKIN CO SCHOOL DIST
18,720 students · 28 schools · $12,330/pupil
Compare vs SUNFLOWER CTY CONS SCHOOL DISTRICT →
HARRISON CO SCHOOL DIST
14,355 students · 24 schools · $11,892/pupil
Compare vs SUNFLOWER CTY CONS SCHOOL DISTRICT →
MADISON CO SCHOOL DIST
13,162 students · 23 schools · $11,926/pupil
Compare vs SUNFLOWER CTY CONS SCHOOL DISTRICT →

Compare SUNFLOWER CTY CONS SCHOOL DISTRICT

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

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Frequently Asked Questions

How many schools are in SUNFLOWER CTY CONS SCHOOL DISTRICT?

SUNFLOWER CTY CONS SCHOOL DISTRICT has 11 schools, including 2 high, 4 elementary, 3 other, 2 middle. Total enrollment is 2,929 students.

How much does SUNFLOWER CTY CONS SCHOOL DISTRICT spend per student?

SUNFLOWER CTY CONS SCHOOL DISTRICT spends $14,264 per student. The district has an equity score of 63/100, ranking #43 in Mississippi.

What is the average teacher salary in SUNFLOWER CTY CONS SCHOOL DISTRICT?

The average teacher salary in SUNFLOWER CTY CONS SCHOOL DISTRICT is $57,882 per year, according to the NCES CCD F-33 Finance Survey.

What is the average rent near SUNFLOWER CTY CONS SCHOOL DISTRICT?

The HUD Fair Market Rent for a 2-bedroom in Sunflower County County is $N/A/month (2026). This affects housing affordability for families in the district.

What is the demographic composition of SUNFLOWER CTY CONS SCHOOL DISTRICT?

SUNFLOWER CTY CONS SCHOOL DISTRICT students are 93.8% African American, 2.7% Hispanic or Latino, 1.5% White, averaged across 11 schools. Source: NCES CCD Membership 2024-25.

What is the equity score for SUNFLOWER CTY CONS SCHOOL DISTRICT?

SUNFLOWER CTY CONS SCHOOL DISTRICT has an equity score of 63/100, ranking #43 out of 146 districts in Mississippi. This score measures resource distribution fairness across schools in the district.

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