East Tate Elementary

East Tate Elementary is a K–6 school in Coldwater, Mississippi, serving 473 students in the Tate County School District, a district rated in the bottom tier of Mississippi. The school currently ranks at the 26th percentile of Mississippi elementary schools (278th of 377), a sharp drop from the 44th percentile just one year earlier. East Tate serves a predominantly low-income population, with 78.4% of students eligible for free or reduced-price lunch, and maintains a student–teacher ratio of 15.7.

Academically, East Tate's clearest strength is mathematics, especially in 6th grade, where 52.8% of students scored proficient — matching the state average and well above Coldwater Elementary's 42.9%. Across all grades, math proficiency averages about 42.8%, while English Language Arts trails at 37.0%. Science is the biggest concern: 5th grade science proficiency fell from 68.1% to 48.5% in a single year, now sitting 23 points below the state average. By comparison, nearby Senatobia Elementary ranks in the 61st percentile, while higher-performing Lewisburg Intermediate ranks in the 93rd. Within its own district, East Tate outperforms Coldwater Elementary in most upper-grade subjects, despite having a larger student–teacher ratio and a lower poverty rate.

Chronic absenteeism affects 24.3% of East Tate students — roughly one in four — compared with just 11.2% at Lewisburg Elementary and 19.9% at Senatobia Elementary. The achievement gap relative to nearby DeSoto County School District schools is significant, but East Tate's success in upper-grade math suggests a replicable strength. Reducing absenteeism and stabilizing year-to-year swings in student performance are likely the most actionable levers for improvement.