Summary:
Zip code 39429 in Columbia, Mississippi, is served by three elementary schools — Columbia Primary School (PK-2), Columbia Elementary School (3-5), and East Marion Elementary School (PK-5) — enrolling 1,124 students. The two Columbia schools are part of the Columbia School District, a 4-star district ranked 31st in the state, while East Marion belongs to the Marion County School District, ranked 61st. This district divide is the defining feature of the local education landscape.
The Columbia schools clearly outpace East Marion academically. Columbia Elementary School posts strong 3rd-grade math scores (65% proficient) and keeps chronic absenteeism just under 10%, compared to state averages. Columbia Primary School serves the youngest learners with the lowest student-teacher ratio in the area (12.9 to 1) and similarly low absenteeism. While Primary lacks test scores because it stops at grade 2, it feeds directly into the high-performing Columbia Elementary.
East Marion Elementary School faces significantly higher challenges: nearly 99% of students are economically disadvantaged, chronic absenteeism reaches 23.3%, and student-teacher ratios are much higher. Consequently, its proficiency rates lag, and 3rd-grade reading and math are pressing concerns. However, East Marion shows a notable bright spot in 4th-grade math, where it has beaten both Columbia Elementary and the state average in two consecutive years. With its rank improving from 288th to 225th, East Marion is making small gains even as early intervention remains a clear priority.
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