The Drew School District is a public school district based in Drew, Mississippi (USA).[1] The school district's attendance boundary includes Drew, Rome, and the employee residences of the Mississippi State Penitentiary (Parchman), located in an unincorporated area.
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The district's schools are Drew Hunter High School and A.W. James Elementary School.[2] 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.[3] 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.[4] Effective August 1, 2011, all students will be required to wear school uniforms.[5]
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.[6] All of the district's students were eligible to receive free lunch.[7]
| School Year | Enrollment | Gender Makeup | Racial Makeup | |||||
| Female | Male | Asian | African American |
Hispanic | Native American |
White | ||
| 2005-06[6] | 652 | 45% | 55% | – | 93.71% | 0.31% | – | 5.98% |
| 2004-05[6] | 702 | 44% | 56% | – | 91.60% | 0.28% | – | 8.12% |
| 2003-04[6] | 678 | 45% | 55% | – | 94.54% | – | – | 5.46% |
| 2002-03[8] | 756 | 47% | 53% | – | 91.93% | – | – | 8.07% |
| 2006-07[9] | 2005-06[10] | 2004-05[11] | 2003-04[12] | 2002-03[13] | |
| 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 |
The Drew School district is in northern Sunflower County, in the central Mississippi Delta region and along U.S. Highway 49 West. The district consists of 172.5 square miles (447 km2) 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.[3] 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.[3][14]
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.[3]
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 km) of the school district.[3]