Average
#565 of 862 schools in MS
A. W. Watson Elementary
Elementary School · CLAIBORNE CO SCHOOL DIST
880 Anthony St., Port Gibson, MS 39150
Enrollment
518
Student-Teacher
14.4:1
Score
5.7
Grades
Pre-K – 5th
Enrollment
518
Student-Teacher
14.4:1
Score
5.7
Grades
Pre-K – 5th
Updated
2022-23
Updated 2022-23
How this school compares
In Port Gibson
#1 of 3
public schools
Mississippi elementary schools
#280 of 436
In district
#1 of 3
CLAIBORNE CO SCHOOL DIST
About A. W. Watson Elementary
A. W. Watson Elementary is a regular public school nestled in the rural community of Port Gibson, Mississippi.
Serving preschool through fifth grade, this elementary school has an enrollment of 518 students and maintains a student-to-teacher ratio of 14.4:1 with 36 full-time equivalent teachers. The school's setting is remote and rural, offering a close-knit environment for its diverse group of learners. While the academic performance scores suggest there is room for improvement—MySchoolScout ranks A.
W. Watson Elementary at 3.7 out of 10, placing it in the 19th percentile among Mississippi schools—the school focuses on student development and growth. On standardized tests, only 23% of students are proficient or above in ELA/Reading, and just 15% are proficient or above in Math.
Despite these challenges, A. W. Watson Elementary remains a central part of the Port Gibson community, providing educational opportunities to its young residents in a rural setting.
What Parents Should Know
Located in a rural area, A. W. Watson Elementary may involve longer commutes for some families. Rural schools often serve as community anchors and may have smaller class sizes, but parents should consider transportation logistics, after-school program availability, and access to specialized services.
Score Breakdown
Full Profile · 3/3 metricsView breakdown
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Data not available for this school
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A. W. Watson Elementary — Students at A. W. Watson Elementary score 28% proficient, which is below what's typical for similar communities (expected: 32%).
Equity & Diversity
Shown separately, not included in overall scoreFree/Reduced Lunch
100%
Students qualifying for federal meal assistance
Test Scores MS EDFACTS (2021-22)
Based on 6 test records from MS state assessments. About our data
Proficiency Trend
↑ ImprovingAverage proficiency (% at or above grade level) across Math & ELA over time.
* COVID-affected year — test participation was uneven nationwide. This data is weighted at 50% in the Growth score calculation.
Source: EdFacts (NCES) and state assessment data. Growth score: 5.8/10.
How A. W. Watson Elementary Compares
See how A. W. Watson Elementary performs across key quality dimensions compared to state benchmarks.
Funding & Resources
Performance Trends
Math proficiency has declined from 24% (2019) to 17% (2022). Reading/ELA proficiency has improved from 21% (2019) to 38% (2022).
Location
880 Anthony St., Port Gibson, MS 39150
Nearby Alternatives
Families considering A. W. Watson Elementary may also want to explore other elementary schools in the area. Tensas Elementary School (rated 7.8/10, 15.3 miles away, in nearby St. Joseph), which scores notably higher. Another option is VICKSBURG INTERMEDIATE (rated 7.0/10, 21.6 miles away, in nearby Vicksburg), which scores notably higher. Additionally, BEECHWOOD ELEMENTARY SCHOOL (rated 6.8/10, 26.8 miles away, in nearby Vicksburg), which scores notably higher. For more schools in Port Gibson, see our Port Gibson schools guide .
Nearby Schools
20 within 26.8 mi| School | Distance | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| PORT GIBSON MIDDLE SCHOOL Port Gibson | 1.3 mi | 4.4 |
| PORT GIBSON HIGH SCHOOL Port Gibson | 2.7 mi | 5.1 |
| Tensas High School St. Joseph | 14.8 mi | 7.8 |
| JEFFERSON CO HIGH Fayette | 17.6 mi | 8.0 |
| TENSAS ACADEMY Saint Joseph | 15.2 mi | 8.4 |
| Tensas Elementary School St. Joseph | 15.3 mi | 7.8 |
| WARRENTON ELEMENTARY SCHOOL Vicksburg | 19.5 mi | 5.8 |
| JEFFERSON CO ELEM SCHOOL Fayette | 19.5 mi | 3.8 |
| VICKSBURG INTERMEDIATE Vicksburg | 21.6 mi | 7.0 |
| DANA ROAD ELEMENTARY Vicksburg | 21.7 mi | 6.5 |
| SOUTH PARK ELEMENTARY SCHOOL Vicksburg | 22.1 mi | 6.1 |
| VICKSBURG HIGH SCHOOL Vicksburg | 25.0 mi | 7.6 |
| BOWMAR AVENUE SCHOOL Vicksburg | 25.8 mi | 6.5 |
| PORTERS CHAPEL ACADEMY Vicksburg | 26.5 mi | 6.9 |
| VICKSBURG JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL Vicksburg | 26.8 mi | 5.7 |
| WARREN CENTRAL JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL Vicksburg | 26.8 mi | 7.1 |
| FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH KINDERGARTEN & PRESCHOOL Vicksburg | 26.9 mi | — |
| UTICA ELEM. / MIDDLE SCHOOL Utica | 23.7 mi | 5.0 |
| ST FRANCIS XAVIER ELEM-VICKSBURG CATHOLIC SCHOOL Vicksburg | 27.1 mi | 6.5 |
| BEECHWOOD ELEMENTARY SCHOOL Vicksburg | 26.8 mi | 6.8 |
Neighborhood Census ACS (2019-2023)
Census data for ZIP 39150 (ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates) · Data sources
Median Income
$36,343
Median Home Value
$85,300
Median Rent
$629/mo
Population
5,094
College Educated
23%
Homeownership
75.2%
Avg Commute
24.4 min
Poverty Rate
24.3%
Median Age
40.3
Community Profile
The community surrounding A. W. Watson Elementary has a median household income of $36,343. It is a community where 23% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The median home value in the area is $85,300, with a median rent of $629/month. The area has a poverty rate of 24.3%, indicating some economic challenges in the community. The average commute for residents is 24 minutes. Source: U.S. Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates.
Similar Schools
Schools in the same state with comparable level, size, and ratings
| School | Rating |
|---|---|
| GALLOWAY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL Jackson, MS | 5.7 |
| HAZLEHURST ELEMENTARY SCHOOL Hazlehurst, MS | 5.7 |
| HORN LAKE ELEM Horn Lake, MS | 5.7 |
| LEAKESVILLE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL Leakesville, MS | 5.7 |
| O'BANNON ELEMENTARY SCHOOL Greenville, MS | 5.7 |
| SHADOW OAKS ELEMENTARY SCHOOL Horn Lake, MS | 5.7 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about A. W. Watson Elementary
What grades does A. W. Watson Elementary serve?
A. W. Watson Elementary serves students in grades Pre-K through 5th.
How many students attend A. W. Watson Elementary?
A. W. Watson Elementary has an enrollment of approximately 518 students.
What is the student-teacher ratio at A. W. Watson Elementary?
The student-teacher ratio at A. W. Watson Elementary is 14.4:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.
How does A. W. Watson Elementary rank in MS?
A. W. Watson Elementary is ranked #565 out of 862 schools in MS.
What is A. W. Watson Elementary's MySchoolScout rating?
A. W. Watson Elementary has a composite rating of 5.7 out of 10 on MySchoolScout. This score combines academic performance, student growth, and school environment into a single score. Equity data is shown separately for context.
What are the test scores at A. W. Watson Elementary?
Based on the most recent state assessment data, A. W. Watson Elementary has 14.7% math proficiency and 23.3% reading/ELA proficiency.
Is A. W. Watson Elementary a charter school?
No, A. W. Watson Elementary is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.
Is A. W. Watson Elementary a Title I school?
No, A. W. Watson Elementary is not currently a Title I school.
What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for A. W. Watson Elementary?
100.0% of students at A. W. Watson Elementary qualify for free or reduced-price lunch. This is a commonly used indicator of economic need and provides important context when interpreting test scores.
Explore More Schools
Neighborhood Context
- County Safety
- Elevated (831/100K)
FBI UCR 2024. County-level only. Data >1 year old.
Quick Facts NCES CCD (SY 2022-23)
- Grades
- Pre-K – 5th
- Enrollment
- 518
- Student-Teacher Ratio
- 14.4:1
- Teachers (FTE)
- 36
- Free/Reduced Lunch
- 100.0%
- Type
- regular
- Setting
- Remote Rural
- County
- Claiborne County
- Phone
- (601) 437-5070
- Data Year
- 2023–2024
Resources & Links
District
CLAIBORNE CO SCHOOL DIST- District Enrollment
- 1,156
- Schools in District
- 4
- Per-Pupil Spending
- $14,923
- District Rank
- #1 of 3
Other Schools in This District
How We Rate Schools
Every school receives a composite score from 1 to 10 based on four pillars: Academic Performance (50%), Student Growth (20%), Equity (15%), and Learning Environment (15%). Scores are built from publicly available data including standardized test results, enrollment figures, and school climate indicators.
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