Best Public Schools in Zip Code 38618

The 38618 zip code area in Mississippi is home to 3 schools - 2 elementary schools (East Tate Elementary and Coldwater Elementary) and 1 high school (Independence High School) - all part of the Tate County School District. While the schools face socioeconomic challenges, with high rates of free/reduced lunch recipients, there are some standout performers and areas of opportunity.

Coldwater Elementary stands out for its exceptionally low student-teacher ratio of 10.9, as well as its strong 3rd-grade Math performance, where 60% of students were proficient or better, outpacing the district and state. East Tate Elementary has the highest enrollment of the three schools and generally stronger test scores, with several grade levels outperforming the district and state averages in both Math and English Language Arts. Independence High School boasts the highest graduation rate at 89.4%, but also has a concerning chronic absenteeism rate of 23.9%.

Across the schools, the high percentages of free/reduced lunch recipients, ranging from 72.54% to 92.38%, suggest that the schools serve a predominantly economically disadvantaged student population, which may contribute to the overall lower academic performance compared to state averages. The data highlights the importance of analyzing school-level performance rather than relying solely on district-level metrics, as the differences in performance between the individual schools within the same district suggest that a more granular approach to understanding and addressing educational challenges is necessary.