Summary:
There are two elementary schools serving grades K-6 in zip code 38618 (Coldwater, MS): East Tate Elementary and Coldwater Elementary School, both part of the Tate County School District, which ranks 109 out of 134 districts in Mississippi. Both schools are high-poverty, with free/reduced lunch rates of 78% at East Tate and 91% at Coldwater, and both have chronic absenteeism rates slightly above the state average (23.9%).
East Tate Elementary is the standout school in this area, with a higher state rank (278 out of 377), stronger average ELA (37%) and math (43%) proficiency, and lower chronic absenteeism (24.3%) than Coldwater Elementary School. Coldwater ranks 320 out of 377, with average ELA proficiency of 29.8% and math of 36.4%. Interestingly, Coldwater has a much better student-teacher ratio (11.3:1) than East Tate (15.7:1), yet still performs lower overall, suggesting class size alone isn't overcoming the challenges of higher poverty and absenteeism. That said, Coldwater did outperform East Tate in 3rd grade math (41.6% vs. 35.7%) and 5th grade ELA (40% vs. ~30%) in the most recent school year.
Both schools struggle significantly in science, with 5th grade proficiency around 48% versus 71.5% statewide. East Tate also saw a sharp decline this year, with math proficiency dropping from 49.2% to 42.8% and its state rank falling from 216th to 278th. Coldwater has declined in ranking for three straight years but did improve its average ELA from 25.8% to 29.8%; however, its 6th grade ELA proficiency sits at just 14.2%, a major concern. Grade-level performance is inconsistent at both schools, pointing to cohort variability and cumulative learning gaps. For parents, the key takeaway is that East Tate is the stronger choice overall, but both schools are below state averages and face substantial socioeconomic hurdles.
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