Summary:
Tate County School District is a small, high-poverty Mississippi district serving roughly 2,004 students across five schools—three K–6 elementary schools and two 7–12 high schools—and ranks 109th out of 134 Mississippi districts with a 1-star rating. Average proficiency rates in many subjects run well below state averages, especially in grades 7 and 8, and chronic absenteeism is a district-wide concern at about 28.8% versus the state's 23.9%.
Strayhorn Elementary School is the district's clear academic bright spot, ranking 166th of 377 elementary schools (56th percentile, 3 stars) and posting average MAAP proficiency around 53%—well ahead of every other district school. It also beats the state on several early-grade measures and has the district's lowest chronic absenteeism at 20.5%. Independence High School is the stronger of the two high schools, ranking at the 34th percentile and outscoring district averages on Algebra I, English II, and Biology. In contrast, Strayhorn High School ranks at just the 5th percentile, Coldwater Elementary School ranks at the 15th percentile with the district's highest poverty rate at 91.1%, and East Tate Elementary falls in between at the 26th percentile.
Another key finding is the dramatic year-to-year swings in test scores—Coldwater Elementary School's 4th grade math proficiency fell 38 points in one year, and Strayhorn High School's English II proficiency dropped from 44.0% to 18.9%—so single-year results should be interpreted with caution. On a more positive note, both high schools post graduation rates near 86%, close to the state's 89.2%. Strayhorn Elementary School's consistent 3-star record over three years proves that higher achievement is possible within the same district context, and its combination of strong attendance and solid instruction makes it the model to replicate. Reducing chronic absenteeism, especially at the high schools where rates hit 33–39%, is a top priority.
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