Summary:
The city of Coldwater, Mississippi is home to three schools - two elementary schools (East Tate Elementary and Coldwater Elementary) and one high school (Independence High School) - all part of the Tate County School District. While the schools face challenges common to high-poverty areas, Coldwater Elementary and Independence High stand out for their strong academic performance in certain subjects and grade levels.
Coldwater Elementary has the highest percentage of African American students at nearly 68%, and in the 2023-2024 school year, it had the best proficiency rates in math and English language arts compared to the district and state averages. Independence High School also excelled, with the highest proficiency rates in U.S. History and 8th grade English language arts. However, the other school, East Tate Elementary, struggled to match these performance levels.
Across the district, the schools face significant economic challenges, with extremely high rates of students qualifying for free or reduced-price lunch, ranging from 98.56% to 99.35%. This high poverty level likely contributes to the disparities in academic performance observed between the schools. By understanding these unique challenges and identifying the strengths of individual schools, policymakers and educators can develop targeted strategies to support student success and address the underlying factors that shape educational outcomes in Coldwater.
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