Video: IAHS Lands On List Of Top Schools For Low Income Students

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FULTON, Miss. (WCBI) – Most faculty and staff at Itawamba Agricultural High School heard about the big honor through email or social media.

“As I was looking through it, I noticed we were ranked 389th out of the low-income schools,” said Principal Trae Wiygul.

Newsweek Magazine placed IAHS in its list of 500 high schools that are “Beating the Odds.” The list praises schools with high academic achievement despite enrollments of a majority of low-income students.

“Our success stories from Itawamba High School, academically and extra curricular activities, we have students who excel and can compete with any students from larger schools,” said Lori McGee Holland, who is the career pathways teacher at IAHS and she helps prepare students for life after high school.

IAHS has a long list of accomplishments. For example,  the school’s “Scholar’s Bowl” team is number one in the state. 2013 graduate Dayton Wilson is a top AP scholar statewide. And in sports,  IAHS grad Brian Dozier plays for the Minnesota Twins.

Students say an attitude and expectation of excellence, regardless of background, is the key.

“Teachers here , truly care about every student. They want every student to prevail. There are so many opportunities. Like I said, just because this is a low-income school doesn’t mean anything,” said IAHS Senior Cole Holland.

The attitude pushes students to keep getting better as individuals as a team. They don’t want to let each other down.

“You just keep on advancing as a team, can’t stop as a team, got to keep on going, no matter what,” said BoSummer Ford, a junior at IAHS.

New Albany High School also made the “Beating the Odds” top 500. And Oxford High was in Newsweek’s overall top 500 list.