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Coleman Elementary School

Public Grades 2-5

454^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 491 Arkansas Elementary Schools

Better than 8% of Arkansas elementary schools

Summary

Coleman Elementary School in Pine Bluff, AR, serves 426 students in grades 2 through 5 within the Watson Chapel School District, a mid-sized school in a high-poverty area where nearly 80% of students qualify for free or reduced lunch.

Academically, Coleman faces significant challenges, consistently ranking in the bottom 10-15% of Arkansas elementary schools. However, there is a slight positive trend: in the 2025-2026 school year, English Language Arts proficiency rose from 13.9% to 19.5%, and Math from 13% to 17.8%. A critical pattern is a severe "4th grade slump," where 4th graders perform dramatically worse than 3rd and 5th graders—for example, only 8.5% of 4th graders are proficient in Math compared to 30.1% of 5th graders. This drop is unique to Coleman and not seen in nearby higher-performing schools like Moody Elementary School or Gandy Elementary School in the White Hall School District, which are just 3.5 to 5.6 miles away but achieve proficiency rates 2 to 3 times higher.

Despite spending $12,336 per student—above the state average and more than the high-performing White Hall schools—outcomes remain low, suggesting challenges tied to deeper socioeconomic and instructional factors rather than a lack of resources. The student-teacher ratio is favorable at 13.8:1, smaller than at Moody (17.3:1) or Taylor Elementary School (16.2:1). Notably, Friendship Aspire Academy Downtown Pine Bluff, a charter school just 2.9 miles away serving a similar high-poverty population, achieved 79% proficiency in Math and 57.9% in ELA, proving that poverty is not destiny and offering a powerful local example of what is possible.

426

Students ?

13.8

Student/teacher ratio ?

$12,336

Per pupil spending ?

79.8%

Free/discounted lunch ?

4600 West 13th
Pine Bluff, AR 71603

(870) 879-3697

District: Watson Chapel School District

Students who attend Coleman Elementary School usually attend:

High:

Watson Chapel High School

Racial breakdown:

African American:

85.9%

White:

10.3%

Two or more races:

2.6%

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Compare Coleman Elementary School to nearby elementary schools!

At a glance

▬ Ranking trend: Holding steady — 6th percentile in 2016 → 8th in 2026

Worth a look

!Test scores below the Arkansas average (19% vs 42% meeting standards)

!In the lower quartile statewide (8th percentile)

!Mathematics scores 26 pts below the Arkansas average

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school19%

District avg19%

Arkansas avg42%

454^th of 491

Arkansas public elementary schools ?

Bottom 8%▲ up 1 pts since 2016

See the entire ranking list of Arkansas Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

241^st of 251Watson Chapel School District among Arkansas districts

Statewide rank percentile over time (100 = the top-ranked school in the state; click a legend item to add a student group)

Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Arkansas percentile	Rating
2026	11.6	454 of 491	7.5%	☆☆☆☆☆
2025	8.7	474 of 495	4.2%	☆☆☆☆☆
2024	20.0	427 of 497	14.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	16.1	425 of 492	13.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	11.7	440 of 487	9.7%	☆☆☆☆☆
2021	9.3	455 of 496	8.3%	☆☆☆☆☆
2019	8.3	455 of 488	6.8%	☆☆☆☆☆
2018	6.7	461 of 480	4.0%	☆☆☆☆☆
2017	11.2	456 of 485	6.0%	☆☆☆☆☆
2016	12.1	464 of 494	6.1%	☆☆☆☆☆
2015	11.1	447 of 466	4.1%	☆☆☆☆☆
2014	7.2	458 of 471	2.8%	☆☆☆☆☆
2013	15.1	440 of 476	7.6%	☆☆☆☆☆
2012	8.0	449 of 468	4.1%	☆☆☆☆☆
2011	10.0	444 of 471	5.7%	☆☆☆☆☆
2010	18.5	400 of 457	12.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2009	21.9	381 of 445	14.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2008	25.7	357 of 439	18.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2007	26.4	361 of 440	18.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2006	13.8	362 of 402	10.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2005	18.3	358 of 411	12.9%	★☆☆☆☆

By subject vs Arkansas (2025-2026) ?

Reading21%-20 vs state

English Language Arts20%-20 vs state

Science18%-26 vs state

Mathematics18%-26 vs state

1.0

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What people are saying

by a citizen
Friday, October 16, 2009

I would give them a zero if possible. My nephew was beaten up by 5 boys and the ones who did it were written up. THAT'S ALL! I couldn't believe it. I would never send a child to a school that would let something like this happen. He has been getting picked on for over a month and they have done nothing! Do NOT send your child there! Close Quote

Schools Near Coleman Elementary School

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Ranking:

E Elementary M Middle H High A Alternative P Private

Choose columns to see: Summary School Students/Teachers Ranking Test Scores Finance All

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2026)				Ranking (2025)				ATLAS English Language Arts (2026)					ATLAS Reading (2026)					ATLAS Mathematics (2026)					ATLAS Science (2026)					Per Pupil Expenditures (2024)
Name	Type	Grades	Address	City	Zip	County	District	Is Charter	Is Magnet	Is Virtual	Is Title I	Phone	Enrollment	Full-time Teachers	Student/ Teacher Ratio	Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients	White	Black	Hispanic	Asian	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Average Standard Score (2026)	Statewide Rank (2026)	State Percentile (2026)	SchoolDigger Rating (2026)	Average Standard Score (2025)	Statewide Rank (2025)	State Percentile (2025)	Rank Change from Previous Year	ATLAS English Language Arts 3rd Grade	ATLAS English Language Arts 4th Grade	ATLAS English Language Arts 5th Grade	ATLAS English Language Arts 6th Grade	ATLAS English Language Arts All Grades	ATLAS Reading 3rd Grade	ATLAS Reading 4th Grade	ATLAS Reading 5th Grade	ATLAS Reading 6th Grade	ATLAS Reading All Grades	ATLAS Mathematics 3rd Grade	ATLAS Mathematics 4th Grade	ATLAS Mathematics 5th Grade	ATLAS Mathematics 6th Grade	ATLAS Mathematics All Grades	ATLAS Science 3rd Grade	ATLAS Science 4th Grade	ATLAS Science 5th Grade	ATLAS Science 6th Grade	ATLAS Science All Grades	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
Coleman Elementary School	Public	2-5	4600 West 13th	Pine Bluff	71603	Jefferson County	Watson Chapel School District	No	No	No	Yes	(870) 879-3697	426	31	13.8	79.8%	44 (10.3%)	366 (85.9%)	4 (0.9%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	11 (2.6%)	11.6	454^th of 491 public elementary schools	7.5%		8.7	474^th of 495 public elementary schools	4.2%	20	27.6	11.0	23.4		19.5	27.5	11.0	27.7		20.9	17.6	8.5	30.1		17.8	26.3	9.3	22.6		18.2	$12,336	$1,756	$10,580
Edgewood Elementary School	Public	K-1	4100 West 32nd	Pine Bluff	71603	Jefferson County	Watson Chapel School District	No	No	No	Yes	(870) 879-1252	199	15	13.5	78.4%	24 (12.1%)	168 (84.4%)	0 (0.0%)	3 (1.5%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	4 (2.0%)								(n/a)																					$13,689	$1,836	$11,853
Matthews Elementary School	Public	K-6	4501 Dollarway Rd	Pine Bluff	71602	Jefferson County	Pine Bluff School District	No	No	No	Yes	(870) 534-0726	367	24	15.2	100.0%	13 (3.5%)	336 (91.6%)	7 (1.9%)	0 (0.0%)	4 (1.1%)	0 (0.0%)	7 (1.9%)	7.2	477^th of 491 public elementary schools	2.9%		11.7	457^th of 495 public elementary schools	7.7%	20	19.3	12.2	18.5	25.5	19.2	17.0	14.6	13.8	23.5	17.1	11.9	17.1	12.3	21.5	15.3	17.0	9.8	12.3	15.7	13.9	$15,830	$2,840	$12,990
Southwood Elementary School	Public	K-6	4200 S Fir St	Pine Bluff	71603	Jefferson County	Pine Bluff School District	No	No	No	Yes	(870) 543-4390	345	23	15.2	100.0%	15 (4.3%)	312 (90.4%)	3 (0.9%)	3 (0.9%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	12 (3.5%)	11.3	457^th of 491 public elementary schools	6.9%		15.6	438^th of 495 public elementary schools	11.5%	19	24.4	7.9	12.7	28.6	17.9	24.4	10.5	11.0	28.6	17.9	19.6	21.1	9.1	44.2	21.4	17.3	15.8	12.7	26.5	17.3	$15,646	$2,336	$13,310
Friendship Aspire Academy Hazel St Pine Bluff	Public, Charter	K-5	Pine Bluff Ar 71603	Pine Bluff	71603	Jefferson County	Friendship Aspire Academies Arkansas	Yes	No	No	Yes	(870) 395-7401	469	29	16.2	80.0%	6 (1.3%)	447 (95.3%)	6 (1.3%)	4 (0.9%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (0.4%)	4 (0.9%)	31.9	357^th of 491 public elementary schools	27.3%		40	314^th of 495 public elementary schools	36.6%	43	20.3	32.4	34.8		30.0	21.6	31.5	37.0		30.7	16.3	45.0	32.6		33.2	24.3	44.1	34.8		35.8	$17,582	$4,906	$12,676
Friendship Aspire Academy Downtown Pine Bluff	Public, Charter	K-3	Pine Bluff Ar 71601	Pine Bluff	71603	Jefferson County	Friendship Aspire Academies Arkansas	Yes	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(870) 515-4001	245	16	15.7	79.2%	3 (1.2%)	235 (95.9%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.4%)	1 (0.4%)	0 (0.0%)	5 (2.0%)	80.1	82^nd of 491 public elementary schools	83.3%		49.6	262^nd of 495 public elementary schools	47.1%	180	57.9				57.9	57.9				57.9	79.0				79.0	44.7				44.7
Gandy Elementary School	Public	K-5	400 Gandy Avenue	White Hall	71602	Jefferson County	White Hall School District	No	No	No	Yes	(870) 247-4054	366	25	14.6	65.0%	230 (62.8%)	104 (28.4%)	16 (4.4%)	12 (3.3%)	1 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	3 (0.8%)	63.2	184^th of 491 public elementary schools	62.5%		53	244^th of 495 public elementary schools	50.7%	60	43.1	44.1	46.8		44.5	53.4	44.1	49.0		48.5	62.1	33.8	57.4		49.7	50.8	39.8	48.9		45.9	$11,292	$1,357	$9,935
Thirty-Fourth Street Elementary School	Public	K-6	801 East 34th Ave	Pine Bluff	71603	Jefferson County	Pine Bluff School District	No	No	No	Yes	(870) 543-4392	399	23	17.5	100.0%	8 (2.0%)	363 (91.0%)	7 (1.8%)	2 (0.5%)	1 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	18 (4.5%)	8.5	472^nd of 491 public elementary schools	3.9%		6.3	486^th of 495 public elementary schools	1.8%	14	20.0	24.5	8.5	24.4	18.9	20.0	26.4	5.1	24.5	18.4	17.2	18.8	1.7	20.4	13.8	20.0	17.0	1.7	16.3	12.7	$16,198	$3,313	$12,886
Broadmoor Elementary School	Public	K-6	1106 Wisconsin Street	Pine Bluff	71601	Jefferson County	Pine Bluff School District	No	No	No	Yes	(870) 543-4368	283	20	13.9	100.0%	11 (3.9%)	253 (89.4%)	3 (1.1%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.4%)	15 (5.3%)	6.6	480^th of 491 public elementary schools	2.2%		3.9	494^th of 495 public elementary schools	0.2%	14	27.5	13.3	11.5	20.0	17.4	25.0	13.4	11.5	23.3	17.4	22.5	8.9	9.6	6.5	11.9	20.0	13.3	3.8	12.9	11.9	$16,699	$2,977	$13,722
Taylor Elementary School	Public	K-5	805 West Street	White Hall	71602	Jefferson County	White Hall School District	No	No	No	Yes	(870) 247-1988	373	23	16.2	71.6%	162 (43.4%)	131 (35.1%)	24 (6.4%)	27 (7.2%)	3 (0.8%)	16 (4.3%)	10 (2.7%)	48.9	264^th of 491 public elementary schools	46.2%		54.7	233^rd of 495 public elementary schools	52.9%	31	34.4	55.0	49.1		46.1	36.1	53.3	43.8		44.4	24.6	30.0	22.8		25.8	42.6	45.0	43.8		43.9	$10,756	$1,354	$9,402

Frequently Asked Questions about Coleman Elementary School

What district is Coleman Elementary School in?

Watson Chapel School District

What schools do graduates of Coleman Elementary School attend?

Students who attend Coleman Elementary School usually go on to attend:

High : Watson Chapel High School

How many students attend Coleman Elementary School?

In the 2024-25 school year, 426 students attended Coleman Elementary School.

What is the racial makeup of Coleman Elementary School?

Students at Coleman Elementary School are 86% African American, 10% White, 3% Two or more races.

Is Coleman Elementary School a good school?

Coleman Elementary School ranks in the bottom 7.5% of Arkansas elementary schools.

Rate Coleman Elementary School!

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SchoolDigger data sources: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education, the U.S. Census Bureau and the Arkansas Division of Elementary and Secondary Education.

IMPORTANT DISCLAIMERS: Not all boundaries are included. We make every effort to ensure that boundaries are up-to-date. But it's important to note that these are approximations and are for general informational purposes only. To verify legal descriptions of boundaries or school locations, contact your local tax assessor's office and/or school district.