Dawson Elementary School

Summary:

Dawson Elementary School is a public elementary school in Jackson, Mississippi, serving 192 students in grades PK-5. The school is part of the Jackson Public School District, which is ranked 110 out of 130 districts in the state and has a 1-star rating.

Dawson Elementary stands out for several key reasons. It has a 100% African American student population, which is significantly higher than the surrounding schools like Green Elementary School and Galloway Elementary School. Academically, Dawson consistently underperforms the state and district averages in proficiency rates for standardized tests, with only 39.4% of 3rd graders proficient in ELA and 0% of 5th graders proficient in Math. As a result, the school has been ranked in the bottom 20% of Mississippi elementary schools for years, with a 0-star rating.

Dawson Elementary also serves a highly economically disadvantaged population, with 100% of students qualifying for free or reduced-price lunch. Despite its relatively low student-teacher ratio, the school has struggled to improve its academic outcomes, suggesting that the challenges it faces are deeply rooted and may require a comprehensive, multi-faceted approach to address the systemic issues within the Jackson Public School District and the surrounding community.

Detail:

Public PK, KG-5

4215 Sunset Drive
Jackson, MS 39213

(601) 987-3513

District: Jackson Public School District

SchoolDigger Rank:
384^th of 390 Mississippi Elementary Schools

Per Pupil Expenditures: $13,715

Students who attend Dawson Elementary School usually attend:

Middle:	Bailey Middle Apac School
	Northwest Middle School
	Powell Middle School
High:	Callaway High School

Student/teacher ratio: 12.2

Number of students: 194

Racial breakdown:

African American:

99.5%

Two or more races:

0.5%

Free/discounted lunch recipients: 100%

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Performance Trends

Compare Details Dawson Elementary School ranks worse than 98.5% of elementary schools in Mississippi. It also ranks 25^th among 28 ranked elementary schools in the Jackson Public School District. (See more...)

Compare Details In 2024 the calculated Average Standard Score was 5.4. (See more...)

Chronic absenteeism in a school refers to a situation where students repeatedly miss school, with the threshold often defined as missing 10% or more of school days for any reason, excused or unexcused.

Student Body

Compare Details Racial makeup is: African American (99.5%), two or more races (0.5%). (See more...)

Compare Details 100% of students are receiving a free or discounted lunch. (See more...)

Teachers

Compare Details The student/teacher ratio at Dawson Elementary School is 12.2, which is the 6^th best among 28 elementary schools in the Jackson Public School District. (See more...)

Compare Dawson Elementary School employs 15.8 full-time teachers.

Finance

Compare Details The average total spent per student at Dawson Elementary School is $13,715, which is the 9^th highest among 28 elementary schools in the Jackson Public School District.

Schooldigger Rankings:

Dawson Elementary School was not ranked this year due to insufficient test score data.

Jackson Public School District:

SchoolDigger ranks Jackson Public School District 110^th of 130 Mississippi school districts. (See district ranking list.)

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Rank History for Dawson Elementary School

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Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Elementary Schools	MS State Percentile
2013	28.87	317^th	408	22.3%
2014	36.53	266^th	394	32.5%
2015	17.12	368^th	402	8.5%
2016	24.25	309^th	394	21.6%
2017	11.81	389^th	406	4.2%
2018	20.85	333^rd	404	17.6%
2019	31.02	284^th	397	28.5%
2021	25.07	268^th	381	29.7%
2022	25.91	282^nd	382	26.2%
2023	44.37	207^th	377	45.1%
2024	5.40	384^th	390	1.5%

See the entire list of Mississippi Elementary School Rankings!

Data source: test scores: Mississippi Department of Education, rankings: SchoolDigger.com

Data source: Mississippi Department of Education

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Enrollment information for Dawson Elementary School

Compare

Year	White	African American	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Total
1990	0	541	0	n/a	n/a	541
1991	0	521	0	n/a	n/a	521
1992	0	470	0	n/a	n/a	470
1993	0	419	0	n/a	n/a	419
1994	0	381	0	n/a	n/a	381
1995	0	366	0	n/a	n/a	366
1996	0	366	0	n/a	n/a	366
1997	0	357	0	n/a	n/a	357
1998	0	348	0	n/a	n/a	348
1999	0	331	0	n/a	n/a	331
2000	0	322	0	n/a	n/a	322
2001	0	331	0	n/a	n/a	331
2002	0	298	0	n/a	n/a	298
2003	0	298	0	n/a	n/a	298
2004	0	278	0	n/a	n/a	278
2005	0	289	0	n/a	n/a	289
2006	1	287	0	n/a	n/a	288
2007	0	277	0	n/a	n/a	277
2008	0	260	0	n/a	n/a	260
2009	0	242	0	0	0	242
2010	1	267	0	0	1	269
2011	2	277	0	0	3	282
2012	6	274	0	0	0	280
2013	1	349	0	0	0	350
2014	1	412	0	0	0	413
2015	1	417	0	0	0	418
2016	1	402	3	0	1	407
2017	2	373	0	0	0	375
2018	2	365	0	0	0	367
2019	2	295	0	0	0	297
2020	1	280	0	0	0	281
2021	0	228	0	0	0	228
2022	0	202	0	0	0	202
2023	0	192	0	0	0	192
2024	0	193	0	0	1	194

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Enrollment/Ethnicity

For more information about how the Department of Education defines ethnicity, see Defining Race and Ethnicity Data, National Center for Education Statistics

Students eligible for free or discounted lunch at Dawson Elementary School

Compare

Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
1990	541	22.2	24.3	n/a
1991	521	21.0	24.8	n/a
1992	470	21.0	22.3	61.1
1993	419	22.0	19.0	63.5
1994	381	20.0	19.0	63.5
1995	366	18.4	19.9	64.8
1996	366	18.4	19.9	64.8
1997	357	18.8	19.0	69.7
1998	348	17.4	20.0	69.3
1999	331	19.1	17.3	77.9
2000	322	19.1	16.9	78.9
2001	331	19.1	17.3	81
2002	298	16.3	18.3	83.2
2003	298	16.3	18.3	83.2
2004	278	13.3	20.9	89.9
2005	289	14.5	19.9	55.4
2006	288	13.1	22.0	95.8
2007	277	15.1	18.3	93.9
2008	260	14.2	18.3	96.5
2009	242	14.6	16.6	96.7
2010	269	12.1	22.1	95.2
2011	282	14.7	19.1	97.9
2012	280	15.0	18.6	96.8
2013	350	18.8	18.6	96.3
2014	413	20.6	20.0	96.9
2015	418	20.0	20.9	100
2016	407	20.0	20.3	100
2017	375	19.4	19.2	100
2018	367	18.2	20.0	100
2019	297	16.1	18.3	100
2020	281	16.7	16.7	100
2021	228	15.2	14.9	100
2022	202	15.2	13.2	100
2023	192	16.0	11.9	100
2024	194	15.8	12.2	100

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Students eligible for discounted/free lunch:

The National School Lunch Program (NSLP) provides low-cost or free meals to students in U.S. public and nonprofit private schools based on household income. Those with incomes below 130% of the poverty line receive free lunch, while those between 130% and 185% qualify for reduced-price lunch. The percentage of students receiving free or reduced-price lunch serves as a marker for poverty, as it reflects the socioeconomic status of families in a given school or district. A higher FRPL rate typically indicates a higher concentration of low-income families, suggesting that the school or district may face additional challenges in providing adequate resources and support for student success.

Student/Teacher Ratio Dawson Elementary School

Compare

Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
1990	541	22.2	24.3	n/a
1991	521	21.0	24.8	n/a
1992	470	21.0	22.3	61.1
1993	419	22.0	19.0	63.5
1994	381	20.0	19.0	63.5
1995	366	18.4	19.9	64.8
1996	366	18.4	19.9	64.8
1997	357	18.8	19.0	69.7
1998	348	17.4	20.0	69.3
1999	331	19.1	17.3	77.9
2000	322	19.1	16.9	78.9
2001	331	19.1	17.3	81
2002	298	16.3	18.3	83.2
2003	298	16.3	18.3	83.2
2004	278	13.3	20.9	89.9
2005	289	14.5	19.9	55.4
2006	288	13.1	22.0	95.8
2007	277	15.1	18.3	93.9
2008	260	14.2	18.3	96.5
2009	242	14.6	16.6	96.7
2010	269	12.1	22.1	95.2
2011	282	14.7	19.1	97.9
2012	280	15.0	18.6	96.8
2013	350	18.8	18.6	96.3
2014	413	20.6	20.0	96.9
2015	418	20.0	20.9	100
2016	407	20.0	20.3	100
2017	375	19.4	19.2	100
2018	367	18.2	20.0	100
2019	297	16.1	18.3	100
2020	281	16.7	16.7	100
2021	228	15.2	14.9	100
2022	202	15.2	13.2	100
2023	192	16.0	11.9	100
2024	194	15.8	12.2	100

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Student-Teacher Ratio

Student/teacher ratio is calculated by dividing the total number of students by the total number of full-time equivalent teachers. Please note that a smaller student/teacher ratio does not necessarily translate to smaller class size. In some instances, schools hire teachers part time, and some teachers are hired for specialized instruction with very small class sizes. These and other factors contribute to the student/teacher ratio. Note: For private schools, Student/teacher ratio may not include Pre-Kindergarten.

Finances

Per Pupil Expenditures for Dawson Elementary School

Year	Total Expenditures Per Pupil
2017	$7,847
2018	$8,801
2019	$9,858
2020	$12,367
2021	$13,158
2022	$13,715

Data source: Mississippi Department of Education

Pre and Post Pandemic Data

Impact of COVID-19 on Dawson Elementary School

The coronavirus has had a profound impact on education in America. Learning shifted online overnight, attendance numbers dwindled, and enrollment decreased. SchoolDigger.com is making it easier for you to better assess how COVID-19 has impacted your school. Through the collection of pre-pandemic (2019) and current data, SchoolDigger.com is sharing test scores, enrollment numbers and school demographics from schools across the country – and we make it easy to see how impacted schools compare locally and statewide.

Rankings

Rank Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)	Rank Post pandemic (2022-2023)	Change (%)
Ranks 284^th of 397 Elementary schools	Ranks 207^th of 377 Elementary schools	16.6%

Test Scores

	% proficient Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)	% proficient Post pandemic (2022-2023)	Change (%)
3rd Grade English Language Arts (Dawson Elementary School)	55.3	33.3	22%
3rd Grade English Language Arts (Jackson Public School District)	36.1	34.1	2%
3rd Grade English Language Arts (Mississippi)	48.3	46.4	1.9%
3rd Grade Mathematics (Dawson Elementary School)	36.9	7.4	29.5%
3rd Grade Mathematics (Jackson Public School District)	25.9	23.6	2.3%
3rd Grade Mathematics (Mississippi)	51.4	49.5	1.9%
4th Grade English Language Arts (Dawson Elementary School)	29.8	21.7	8.1%
4th Grade English Language Arts (Jackson Public School District)	32.6	41.6	9%
4th Grade English Language Arts (Mississippi)	48.5	53.4	4.9%
4th Grade Mathematics (Dawson Elementary School)	23.4	8.7	14.7%
4th Grade Mathematics (Jackson Public School District)	27	39	12%
4th Grade Mathematics (Mississippi)	48.8	56.7	7.9%
5th Grade English Language Arts (Dawson Elementary School)	28	65.2	37.2%
5th Grade English Language Arts (Jackson Public School District)	33.2	43.2	10%
5th Grade English Language Arts (Mississippi)	43	51.9	8.9%
5th Grade Mathematics (Dawson Elementary School)	30	39.1	9.1%
5th Grade Mathematics (Jackson Public School District)	25.6	26.8	1.2%
5th Grade Mathematics (Mississippi)	38.9	44.3	5.4%
5th Grade Science (Dawson Elementary School)	38	78.3	40.3%
5th Grade Science (Jackson Public School District)	44.2	60	15.8%
5th Grade Science (Mississippi)	55.9	64.3	8.4%

Student Body

	Number of students Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)	Number of students Post pandemic (2022-2023)	Change (%)
Total Students	297	192	35.4%
African American	295	192	34.9%
American Indian	0	0
Asian	0	0
Hispanic	0	0
Pacific Islander	0	0
White	2	0	100%
Two or More Races	0	0
% Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients	100%	100%

Schools Near Dawson Elementary School

Choose columns to see: Summary School Students/Teachers Ranking Test Scores Finance All

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2024)				Ranking (2023)				MAAP English Language Arts (2024)			MAAP Mathematics (2024)			MAAP Science (2024)	Per Pupil Expenditures (2022)
Name	Type	Grades	Address	City	Zip	County	District	Is Charter	Is Magnet	Is Virtual	Is Title I	Phone	Enrollment	Full-time Teachers	Student/ Teacher Ratio	Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients	White	Black	Hispanic	Asian	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Average Standard Score (2024)	Statewide Rank (2024)	State Percentile (2024)	SchoolDigger Rating (2024)	Average Standard Score (2023)	Statewide Rank (2023)	State Percentile (2023)	Rank Change from Previous Year	MAAP English Language Arts 3rd Grade	MAAP English Language Arts 4th Grade	MAAP English Language Arts 5th Grade	MAAP Mathematics 3rd Grade	MAAP Mathematics 4th Grade	MAAP Mathematics 5th Grade	MAAP Science 5th Grade	Total
Dawson Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	4215 Sunset Drive	Jackson	39213	Hinds County	Jackson Public School District	No	No	No	Yes	(601) 987-3513	194	16	12.2	100.0%	0 (0.0%)	193 (99.5%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.5%)	5.4	384^th of 390 public elementary schools	1.5%		44.4	207^th of 377 public elementary schools	45.1%	177	39.4	11.8	21.1	15.2	2.9	0.0	21.1	$13,715
Smith Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	3900 Parkway Drive	Jackson	39213	Hinds County	Jackson Public School District	No	No	No	Yes	(601) 987-3525	222	19	11.8	100.0%	0 (0.0%)	218 (98.2%)	1 (0.5%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	3 (1.4%)	11.8	362^nd of 390 public elementary schools	7.2%		13.4	345^th of 377 public elementary schools	8.5%	17	26.3	38.3	25.9	13.2	32.3	29.6	40.7	$13,726
Johnson Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	1339 Oakpark Drive	Jackson	39213	Hinds County	Jackson Public School District	No	No	No	Yes	(601) 987-3501	279	21	13.5	100.0%	2 (0.7%)	260 (93.2%)	5 (1.8%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	12 (4.3%)	16.3	343^rd of 390 public elementary schools	12.1%		38.7	239^th of 377 public elementary schools	36.6%	104	31.7	41.0	40.0	22.0	7.7	40.0	43.3	$13,083
Morrison Academic Advancement Center	Public	1-7	1224 Eminence Row	Jackson	39213	Hinds County	Jackson Public School District	No	No	No	Yes	(601) 987-3695	0	0			0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()								(n/a)
Walton Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	3200 Bailey Avenue Extension	Jackson	39213	Hinds County	Jackson Public School District	No	No	No	Yes	(601) 987-3591	348	26	13.5	100.0%	1 (0.3%)	345 (99.1%)	1 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.3%)	20.5	328^th of 390 public elementary schools	15.9%		13.2	347^th of 377 public elementary schools	8.0%	19	28.8	29.5	46.7	30.5	51.2	13.3	46.7	$12,599
Lake Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	472 Mt Vernon Avenue	Jackson	39209	Hinds County	Jackson Public School District	No	No	No	Yes	(601) 960-5308	230	16	14.7	100.0%	3 (1.3%)	217 (94.3%)	4 (1.7%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	6 (2.6%)	44.2	222^nd of 390 public elementary schools	43.1%		53.8	166^th of 377 public elementary schools	56.0%	56	54.6	51.6	47.6	43.2	29.0	42.8	85.7	$13,215
Green Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	610 Forest Avenue	Jackson	39206	Hinds County	Jackson Public School District	No	No	No	Yes	(601) 987-3519	290	21	13.6	100.0%	2 (0.7%)	280 (96.6%)	3 (1.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	5 (1.7%)	30.5	275^th of 390 public elementary schools	29.5%		48.9	188^th of 377 public elementary schools	50.1%	87	42.2	38.3	40.0	33.4	29.8	55.6	62.2	$13,657
Galloway Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	186 Idlewild Street	Jackson	39203	Hinds County	Jackson Public School District	No	No	No	Yes	(601) 960-5313	317	25	12.8	100.0%	2 (0.6%)	311 (98.1%)	2 (0.6%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (0.6%)	10.9	366^th of 390 public elementary schools	6.2%		34.9	257^th of 377 public elementary schools	31.8%	109	22.2	14.3	37.2	27.7	8.1	22.8	57.1	$12,784
Pecan Park Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	415 Claiborne Avenue	Jackson	39209	Hinds County	Jackson Public School District	No	No	No	Yes	(601) 960-5444	329	23	14.2	100.0%	0 (0.0%)	265 (80.5%)	62 (18.8%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (0.6%)	7.7	379^th of 390 public elementary schools	2.8%		15.2	337^th of 377 public elementary schools	10.6%	42	32.2	25.4	27.5	21.4	15.9	17.5	40.0	$12,487
Raines Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	156 Flag Chapel Road	Jackson	39209	Hinds County	Jackson Public School District	No	No	No	Yes	(601) 923-2544	211	14	14.8	100.0%	1 (0.5%)	208 (98.6%)	1 (0.5%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.5%)	12.1	358^th of 390 public elementary schools	8.2%		24.9	303^rd of 377 public elementary schools	19.6%	55	38.7	33.3	26.9	35.5	7.4	7.6	46.1	$13,746

Frequently Asked Questions about Dawson Elementary School

What is the racial makeup of Dawson Elementary School?

Students at Dawson Elementary School are 99% African American.

What schools do graduates of Dawson Elementary School attend?

Students who attend Dawson Elementary School usually go on to attend:

Middle : Bailey Middle Apac School
Middle : Northwest Middle School
Middle : Powell Middle School
High : Callaway High School

How many students attend Dawson Elementary School?

In the 2023-24 school year, 194 students attended Dawson Elementary School.

What district is Dawson Elementary School in?

Jackson Public School District

Is Dawson Elementary School a good school?

Dawson Elementary School ranks in the bottom 1.5% of Mississippi elementary schools.

Rate Dawson Elementary School!

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SchoolDigger data sources: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education, the U.S. Census Bureau and the Mississippi Department of Education.

IMPORTANT DISCLAIMERS: Not all boundaries are included. We make every effort to ensure that boundaries are up-to-date. But it's important to note that these are approximations and are for general informational purposes only. To verify legal descriptions of boundaries or school locations, contact your local tax assessor's office and/or school district.