Enrollment
345
Mississippi · 2024-25 NCES data
Elementary school (grades K-5) · Tupelo, MS
Pierce Street Elementary School
Federal NCES profile for Pierce Street Elementary School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 39/100.
2024-25 NCES dataElementary school (grades K-5)NCES 280432000816
👥 S:T ratio 56
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 31
📋 Attendance 0
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Pierce Street Elementary School earns 39/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes smaller than 82% of Mississippi schools. It is also more racially and ethnically mixed than most Mississippi schools.
- #6 of 8
- elementary schools in Tupelo · Resource Index
- 39
- Resource Index · Typical
- 11.1:1
- small classes for Mississippi
- 59.8%
- free-lunch eligible
Pierce Street Elementary School has class sizes smaller than 82% of Mississippi schools. Computed live against every Mississippi school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Pierce Street Elementary School ranks #6 of 8 elementary schools in Tupelo, MS.
School address
District: Tupelo Public School Dist · Mississippi
NCES ID 280432000816 Verify on NCES CCD record →
Teachers (FTE)
31.0
Federal CCD staff survey
Students per teacher
11.1:1
vs 13.3:1 Mississippi avg
-17% vs state
Free-lunch eligible
59.8%
vs 80.5% Mississippi avg
-26% vs state
Student-teacher ratio in context
How Pierce Street Elementary School compares with Mississippi and U.S. medians
What stands out at Pierce Street Elementary School
Pierce Street Elementary School is a higher-need, mid-sized elementary school in Tupelo, Mississippi, enrolling 345 students.
Class sizes run a bit leaner than typical: 11.1:1 puts it in the smaller third of Mississippi schools by student-teacher ratio.
Economic need runs somewhat below the state's typical profile, with 59.8% of students eligible for free meals.
With 345 students, its enrollment sits close to the Mississippi median campus size.
Its Resource Investment Index sits near the middle of the pack among 877 scored Mississippi schools.
Against 99 statewide peers matched on enrollment and economic need, it ranks mid-pack at #64.
Its student body is led by African American (51%) and White (33%), more mixed than most schools in the state (diversity index 61/100).
Counselor availability sits well past the ASCA benchmark, roughly 345 students sharing each counselor, though short of the most stretched campuses.
Chronic absenteeism is elevated: 45.8% of students missed 10% or more of school days (2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection).
Its district draws 18.6% of revenue from federal sources, an above-typical federal share that tends to track a higher-need student population.
Discipline events run high: 89 in- and out-of-school suspensions were reported for 345 students in the 2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection.
Among Tupelo's elementary schools, it stands alongside Lawhon Elementary School (575 students): Pierce Street Elementary School is smaller than that campus by headcount and runs leaner classes (11.1:1 vs 13.4:1).
Tupelo Public School Dist also operates Tupelo High School (2,123 students) and Tupelo Middle School (1,070 students) alongside Pierce Street Elementary School.
Sourced from NCES CCD, CRDC, and F-33 (federal records, not a quality verdict). How we source and compute this.
Source: National Center for Education Statistics Common Core of Data + CRDC + F-33 · 2024-25
How Pierce Street Elementary School compares
Pierce Street Elementary School on the metrics families compare, against Mississippi and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Mississippi | Mississippi avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 11.1:1 | ▼ 17% | 13.3:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 59.8% | ▼ 26% | 80.5% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 345 | top 65% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
11.1:1
Leaner classes than 82% of US schools, among the more generously staffed nationally.
345
Bigger than 39% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators (what these measure)
Economic need
59.8%
free-lunch eligible
- 26% below the Mississippi average of 80.5%
Above the 40% Title I schoolwide threshold; federal funds support the whole school, not individual students.
Staffing depth
11.1:1
students per teacher
- 17% below state mean
Top 18% in Mississippi - lower ratio than 82% of state schools
Well under the widely cited 15:1 individualized-attention benchmark, among the leaner class loads nationally.
Engagement
45.8%
chronically absent (missed 10%+ of school days)
At or above 20%, the commonly used threshold for "high" chronic absenteeism, signaling significant barriers to regular attendance.
Funding equity
$11,682
per pupil, district-wide
- below Mississippi avg of $11,990
Well below the U.S. average per-pupil spend, a notably leaner funding position that may affect programs, facilities, and staffing.
Support staff
Counselors1.0 FTE
Per 345 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
44
in-school suspensions + 45 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 12.8 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 25.8 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Overview
- Common Core of Data (June 2026): enrollment, staffing, and the student-teacher ratio above.
- Civil Rights Data Collection: discipline counts and program access (AP, gifted, special education).
- F-33 School District Finance Survey: the district-wide per-pupil spending figures below.
Three separate federal collections, each on its own reporting cadence - which is why this school's numbers line up on a consistent basis against every other school and state on this site, rather than mixing figures pulled from different survey years.
Student demographics
African American 51.3%
White 33.3%
Hispanic or Latino 10.4%
Two or More 2.6%
Asian 2.0%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 0.3%
Largest group: African American at 51.3% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 61.4/100
Simpson diversity index - at 61.4, Pierce Street Elementary School is more mixed than the Mississippi school average of 41.1.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
Funding & spending
District-wide per-pupil expenditure for Tupelo Public School Dist, which includes Pierce Street Elementary School.
$11,682
Per student
-3%
vs Mississippi
Avg $11,990
-30%
vs U.S.
Avg $16,593
Revenue mix
Local 42.5%
State 38.9%
Federal 18.6%
Source: NCES F-33 School District Finance Survey District-level finance · FY 2021-22 Per-pupil expenditure reflects the district-wide average. Individual school budgets are not reported at the federal level.
How Pierce Street Elementary School Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tupelo High School | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Tupelo Middle School | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Lawhon Elementary School | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Milam Elementary School | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Joyner Elementary School | Larger | Higher economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Pierce Street Elementary School's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 2,123
- Students per teacher
- 16.2:1
- Resource Index
- 35/100
- Enrollment
- 1,070
- Students per teacher
- 13.5:1
- Resource Index
- 19/100
- Enrollment
- 575
- Students per teacher
- 13.4:1
- Resource Index
- 35/100
- Enrollment
- 456
- Students per teacher
- 13:1
- Resource Index
- 43/100
- Enrollment
- 444
- Students per teacher
- 10.3:1
- Resource Index
- 41/100
Similar elementary schools in Tupelo
6 comparable elementary schools (grades K-5) serving the same city.
Lawhon Elementary School
Standard public school
575 students 13.4:1 students per teacher
Joyner Elementary School
Standard public school
444 students 10.3:1 students per teacher
Parkway Elementary School
Standard public school
418 students 10:1 students per teacher
Lawndale Elementary School
Standard public school
378 students 11.5:1 students per teacher
Rankin Elementary School
Standard public school
375 students 11.7:1 students per teacher
Thomas Street Elementary School
Standard public school
374 students 8.9:1 students per teacher
Similar elementary schools statewide
Matched by enrollment size and by staffing ratio across all of Mississippi, not just this city - a different peer set than the local comparisons above.
Similar enrollment (~345 students)
Similar student-teacher ratio (~11.1:1)
Next steps
Verify locally before acting on Pierce Street Elementary School's federal record.
- Compare Pierce Street Elementary School against another school. Compare schools
- Tupelo Public School Dist's spending and staffing shape this school. District profile
- Confirm current enrollment and boundaries with the school. Choosing guide
Federal record (CCD 2024-25, CRDC 2021-22) - PlainSchools assigns no subjective rating; the composite quality score is a transparent, reproducible index computed from this cited federal data.
Frequently asked questions about Pierce Street Elementary School
How many students attend Pierce Street Elementary School?
Pierce Street Elementary School has 345 students enrolled. It is an elementary school in Tupelo, MS.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Pierce Street Elementary School?
The student-teacher ratio at Pierce Street Elementary School is 11.1:1, which is 17% lower than the Mississippi average of 13.3:1 and 29% lower than the national average of 15.7:1. Lower ratios generally mean more individual attention per student.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Pierce Street Elementary School?
59.8% of students at Pierce Street Elementary School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Mississippi average of 80.5%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Pierce Street Elementary School?
The largest demographic group at Pierce Street Elementary School is African American at 51.3% of enrollment, in Tupelo, MS. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 61.4/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Pierce Street Elementary School?
Pierce Street Elementary School has a Resource Investment Index of 39/100 (typical reported resources relative to schools nationally) based on 4 factors: student-teacher ratio, counselor availability, attendance rates. Not a test-score or academic measure (national median ~41/100, see methodology).
How does Pierce Street Elementary School rank among elementary schools in Tupelo?
By Resource Investment Index, Pierce Street Elementary School ranks #6 of 8 elementary schools in Tupelo, MS. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all elementary schools in Tupelo on the city page.
Is Pierce Street Elementary School a good school?
Pierce Street Elementary School earns 39/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes smaller than 82% of Mississippi schools. It is also more racially and ethnically mixed than most Mississippi schools. This is a resource snapshot, not an academic rating; see the Resource Investment Index question above for what the number does and doesn't measure.
What other schools are in Tupelo Public School Dist?
Besides Pierce Street Elementary School, Tupelo Public School Dist also operates Tupelo High School (2,123 students), Tupelo Middle School (1,070 students), and Lawhon Elementary School (575 students). See the Tupelo Public School Dist district page for the complete list.
Related tools
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. Each school's figures reflect its most recent NCES/CRDC submission on file. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of June 2026.