Summary:
There is one elementary school serving grades PK–6 in Decatur, Mississippi: Newton County Elementary School, part of the Newton County School District.
Newton County Elementary stands out as a high performer. The school ranks 43rd out of 377 elementary schools in Mississippi for 2025–2026, placing it in the 89th percentile with a 4-star rating. Its district ranks 12th out of 134 districts statewide (91st percentile, 5 stars). Academically, the school outpaces state averages in every reported subject and grade. Most striking are 3rd grade results: 85.5% proficiency in English Language Arts and 81.0% in math, versus state averages of 48.5% and 48.8%, respectively. Upper elementary grades remain above state averages but show lower proficiency, with 5th grade ELA at 64.5% (state: 55.8%) and 5th grade math at 62.6% (state: 49.6%). The school also posts a low chronic absenteeism rate of 14.4%, well below the district's 18.0% and the state's 23.9%.
Notably, 61.79% of students receive free or reduced-price lunch, yet the school still achieves well above state benchmarks. There is meaningful year-over-year volatility in scores—3rd grade math jumped 24.5 points from 2024–2025 to 2025–2026, while 4th grade math dropped 10.5 points—but these reflect different cohorts rather than the same students. The school's three-year rank trend is upward: 54th (2023–2024), 68th (2024–2025), and 43rd (2025–2026). Science proficiency is solid but less dramatic than ELA or math, and 6th grade data was not reported in the latest year. Overall, Newton County Elementary delivers strong early-grade foundations, impressive results despite economic challenges, and a clear pattern of above-average performance across most metrics.
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