Drew School District
Encyclopedia
The Drew School District is a public school district
based in Drew
, Mississippi
(USA
). The school district's attendance boundary includes Drew, Rome
, and the employee residences of the Mississippi State Penitentiary
(Parchman), located in an unincorporated area
.
, in the central Mississippi Delta
region and along U.S. Highway 49 West. The district consists of 172.5 square mile of farmland, and about 7,500 people live within the boundaries of the district. The school district is in the center of an area surrounded by four larger towns, Clarksdale
, Cleveland
, Greenwood
, and Indianola
, which function as shopping centers. The school district's attendance boundary includes Drew, Rome
, and the employee residences of the Mississippi State Penitentiary
(MSP, Parchman), located in an unincorporated area
.
Most adult residents of the district have high school diplomas or less education. Major employers include the school district, the Mississippi Department of Corrections (operator of MSP), and farming operations which produce beans, catfish, cotton, and rice. Some residents work in factories and other businesses located in Clarksdale, Cleveland, Indianola, and Ruleville
.
Within the district boundaries are two banks, about 20 churches, a National Guard armory, a library, and three parks. Three higher education institutions are within 30 miles (48.3 km) of the school district.
School district
School districts are a form of special-purpose district which serves to operate the local public primary and secondary schools.-United States:...
based in Drew
Drew, Mississippi
Drew is a city in Sunflower County, Mississippi, United States. The population was 2,434 at the 2000 census. Drew, a rural community, is in the vicinity of several plantations and the Mississippi State Penitentiary, a Mississippi Department of Corrections prison for men.-Geography:Drew is located at...
, Mississippi
Mississippi
Mississippi is a U.S. state located in the Southern United States. Jackson is the state capital and largest city. The name of the state derives from the Mississippi River, which flows along its western boundary, whose name comes from the Ojibwe word misi-ziibi...
(USA
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
). The school district's attendance boundary includes Drew, Rome
Rome, Mississippi
Rome is an unincorporated community located in Sunflower County, Mississippi, United States. Rome is approximately north of the Mississippi State Penitentiary and south of Tutwiler along U.S. Highway 49W.-Government and infrastructure:...
, and the employee residences of the Mississippi State Penitentiary
Mississippi State Penitentiary
Mississippi State Penitentiary , also known as Parchman Farm, is the oldest prison and the only maximum security prison for men in the state of Mississippi, USA....
(Parchman), located in an unincorporated area
Unincorporated area
In law, an unincorporated area is a region of land that is not a part of any municipality.To "incorporate" in this context means to form a municipal corporation, a city, town, or village with its own government. An unincorporated community is usually not subject to or taxed by a municipal government...
.
Schools
The district's schools are Drew Hunter High School and A.W. James Elementary School. Prior to the 2010-2011 school year the school district had three school buildings, including A.W. James Elementary School, Hunter Middle School, and Drew High School. James served K-4, Hunter served 5-8, and Drew High served 9-12. In 2010 the school district voted to close the Drew High School building and move the 5th and 6th grades to A.W. James. John Thigpen, the president of the school board, stated that the district operated as if it had 1,200 students when in fact it had 650. Effective August 1, 2011, all students will be required to wear school uniforms.2006-07 school year
There were a total of 650 students enrolled in the Drew School District during the 2006-2007 school year. The gender makeup of the district was 48% female and 52% male. The racial makeup of the district was 94.00% African American, 5.08% White, and 0.92% Hispanic. All of the district's students were eligible to receive free lunch.Previous school years
| School Year | Enrollment | Gender Makeup | Racial Makeup | |||||
| Female | Male | Asian | African American |
Hispanic | Native American |
White | ||
| 2005-06 | 652 | 45% | 55% | – | 93.71% | 0.31% | – | 5.98% |
| 2004-05 | 702 | 44% | 56% | – | 91.60% | 0.28% | – | 8.12% |
| 2003-04 | 678 | 45% | 55% | – | 94.54% | – | – | 5.46% |
| 2002-03 | 756 | 47% | 53% | – | 91.93% | – | – | 8.07% |
Accountability statistics
| 2006-07 | 2005-06 | 2004-05 | 2003-04 | 2002-03 | |
| District Accreditation Status | Accredited | Accredited | Accredited | Accredited | Advised |
| School Performance Classifications | |||||
| Level 5 (Superior Performing) Schools | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Level 4 (Exemplary) Schools | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Level 3 (Successful) Schools | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 1 |
| Level 2 (Under Performing) Schools | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Level 1 (Low Performing) Schools | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Not Assigned | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
District profile and population
The Drew School district is in northern Sunflower CountySunflower County, Mississippi
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 34,369 people, 9,637 households, and 7,314 families residing in the county. The population density was 50 people per square mile . There were 10,338 housing units at an average density of 15 per square mile...
, in the central Mississippi Delta
Mississippi Delta
The Mississippi Delta is the distinctive northwest section of the U.S. state of Mississippi that lies between the Mississippi and Yazoo Rivers. The region has been called "The Most Southern Place on Earth" because of its unique racial, cultural, and economic history...
region and along U.S. Highway 49 West. The district consists of 172.5 square mile of farmland, and about 7,500 people live within the boundaries of the district. The school district is in the center of an area surrounded by four larger towns, Clarksdale
Clarksdale, Mississippi
Clarksdale is a city in Coahoma County, Mississippi, United States. The population was 20,645 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Coahoma County....
, Cleveland
Cleveland, Mississippi
Cleveland is a city in Bolivar County, Mississippi, United States. The population was 12,334 as of the 2010 census.Cleveland has a fairly large commercial economy, with numerous restaurants, stores, and services along U.S. Highway 61...
, Greenwood
Greenwood, Mississippi
Greenwood is a city in and the county seat of Leflore County, Mississippi, United States, located at the eastern edge of the Mississippi Delta approximately 96 miles north of Jackson, Mississippi, and 130 miles south of Memphis, Tennessee. The population was 15,205 at the 2010 census. It is the...
, and Indianola
Indianola, Mississippi
Indianola is a city in Sunflower County, Mississippi, United States. The population was 12,066 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Sunflower County.-History:...
, which function as shopping centers. The school district's attendance boundary includes Drew, Rome
Rome, Mississippi
Rome is an unincorporated community located in Sunflower County, Mississippi, United States. Rome is approximately north of the Mississippi State Penitentiary and south of Tutwiler along U.S. Highway 49W.-Government and infrastructure:...
, and the employee residences of the Mississippi State Penitentiary
Mississippi State Penitentiary
Mississippi State Penitentiary , also known as Parchman Farm, is the oldest prison and the only maximum security prison for men in the state of Mississippi, USA....
(MSP, Parchman), located in an unincorporated area
Unincorporated area
In law, an unincorporated area is a region of land that is not a part of any municipality.To "incorporate" in this context means to form a municipal corporation, a city, town, or village with its own government. An unincorporated community is usually not subject to or taxed by a municipal government...
.
Most adult residents of the district have high school diplomas or less education. Major employers include the school district, the Mississippi Department of Corrections (operator of MSP), and farming operations which produce beans, catfish, cotton, and rice. Some residents work in factories and other businesses located in Clarksdale, Cleveland, Indianola, and Ruleville
Ruleville, Mississippi
Ruleville is a small city in the fertile Mississippi Delta region in Sunflower County, Mississippi, United States. The population was 3,234 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Ruleville is located at ....
.
Within the district boundaries are two banks, about 20 churches, a National Guard armory, a library, and three parks. Three higher education institutions are within 30 miles (48.3 km) of the school district.
External links
- Drew School District
- Drew School District (Archive)