Escatawpa Upper Elementary

Escatawpa Upper Elementary is a grades 3–5 school in Moss Point, Mississippi, serving 342 students within the Moss Point School District. The school's academic performance is the lowest among neighboring elementary schools, with proficiency rates well below state averages in every subject. For example, only 16.2% of 3rd graders are proficient in math compared to the state average of 48.8%, and 27.4% are proficient in ELA versus the state's 48.5%. Nearby schools in the Pascagoula-Gautier School District range from 27.8% to 81.3% in 3rd grade math proficiency, making the school the clear outlier in the region.

Chronic absenteeism is a major concern at Escatawpa Upper Elementary. At 39.5%, nearly 4 in 10 students are chronically absent, almost double the state rate of 23.9% and the highest among surrounding schools. By comparison, Beach Elementary has a chronic absenteeism rate of just 7.2%, and even Kreole Primary Elementary — the same-district feeder school serving grades PK–2 — has a lower rate at 30.4%. The school also reports 100% free and reduced-price lunch eligibility, reflecting the economic challenges facing the student body. Before the pandemic, the absenteeism rate at Escatawpa was 11.7%, but it has not recovered since.

There are a few encouraging signs. Students at Escatawpa Upper Elementary show academic growth as they advance from 3rd to 5th grade — ELA proficiency improves from 27.4% to 41.9% and math from 16.2% to 31.2% — suggesting students make progress during their time at the school. The 5th grade science proficiency rate of 46.3% is the school's strongest area. The student-teacher ratio of 13.3 is also comparable to nearby schools, meaning class sizes are not the primary issue. However, the school has consistently ranked in the bottom quartile of Mississippi elementary schools for over a decade, and the combination of high poverty, high absenteeism, and low math proficiency means Escatawpa needs substantial, sustained support to close the gap with its neighbors.