Summary:
Newton County School District is served by a single elementary school, Newton County Elementary School, which enrolls 882 students in grades PK through 6 in Decatur, MS, and consistently outperforms state averages despite serving a predominantly economically disadvantaged population.
The school is a clear standout in the district and across Mississippi. Newton County School District ranks 12th out of 134 districts statewide with a 5-star rating, and Newton County Elementary ranks 43rd out of 377 elementary schools — putting it in the 89th percentile. The school improved from 68th to 43rd in the most recent year and has earned a 4-star rating. Parents should note that the school beats the state average on every single test in both 2024-2025 and 2025-2026, making it a reliable high performer. Because it is the only elementary school in the district, the school’s results are identical to the district’s results for every reported subject and grade.
The strongest results are in early grades, especially 3rd grade English language arts (85.5% proficient vs. 48.5% statewide) and 3rd grade math (81.0% vs. 48.8% statewide). Scores tend to soften in upper grades, but still remain above state levels. Chronic absenteeism is also a bright spot: 14.4% at the school, compared to 23.9% statewide. While math and reading in 4th grade dropped in 2025-2026, large year-over-year swings in several grades suggest these are cohort effects rather than schoolwide trends. For parents considering this school, Newton County Elementary offers strong academic performance, excellent early literacy and math instruction, and a significantly better attendance record than the state average — all while ranking among the top 12% of elementary schools in Mississippi.
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