The top reported proficiency rate is 65% in Science. The lowest is 41% in Math.
Original Research by School Decision on East Flora Elementary
East Flora Elementary sits on Highway 22 East in the small town of Flora, Mississippi, about twenty miles from Jackson. It is part of the Madison County School District and serves pre-kindergarten through fifth grade, making it the local entry point for children in this part of the county. After fifth grade, students move on to Madison Middle School, Rosa Scott for ninth grade, and Madison Central High School, all located elsewhere in the county rather than in Flora itself.
The school is small, enrolling just over two hundred children across its grade bands. The student body is predominantly Black, with a smaller White enrollment and very few Hispanic or multiracial students. A very large share of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, which is consistent with the economic profile of Flora and the surrounding rural areas of western Madison County. The school is not a charter or magnet school. Data on individualized education programs and English learners was not available, so those population details are absent here rather than assumed.
On state assessments, East Flora's results paint a mixed but not discouraging picture. In math, roughly four in ten third and fourth graders reached proficiency, with fifth grade dipping below that. English language arts follows an interesting arc: third grade landed near the upper-middle range, fourth grade slipped, and then fifth grade rebounded strongly, with a clear majority of students demonstrating proficiency. Fifth grade science was the standout, with about two-thirds of tested students reaching proficient or above. These are moderate results overall, with real strength in the upper grades. The tested cohorts are small, which means year-to-year swings can reflect a handful of students either way. Participation rates were not reported in the available data.
Flora itself is a small incorporated town in the Jackson metropolitan area. Its Main Street corridor has been undergoing revitalization, with farm-to-table businesses, a coffee shop, an art gallery, and restaurants drawing visitors from surrounding communities. The town has branded itself the "farm-to-table capital of Mississippi." A two-phase downtown development project bringing retail and residential space has been described as the first serious commercial development in years. Outside the Main Street corridor, the area is largely residential and low-density. U.S. Route 49 and Mississippi Highway 22 are the main roadways, and there is no public transit. The Mississippi Petrified Forest lies just outside town, and a historic railroad depot serves as a museum.
Housing in the Flora area sits above the state benchmark but below the national one, reflecting Madison County's position as a more affluent county within Mississippi. Home values have shown modest year-over-year appreciation. Estimated monthly mortgage costs are manageable relative to typical incomes, with a price-to-income ratio that remains favorable compared to many parts of the country. Rent data was not available for this area.
Several categories of information that parents often look for were not present in the available data. There was no detail on discipline, course access, staffing ratios, attendance patterns, or Title I status. No program offerings were listed. No multi-year trend data was available to show whether proficiency rates are improving or declining over time. The Madison County School District brief did not surface any recent parent-relevant changes such as bond issues, rezoning, or curriculum shifts. A parent evaluating East Flora may want to ask the school directly about these areas, particularly student support services, staffing, and any specialized programming for children who need extra help or enrichment.
What the available picture shows is a small, community-rooted elementary school in a town experiencing modest reinvestment, serving a high-need student population with moderate academic results that strengthen as students move toward upper elementary. The fifth grade ELA and science numbers suggest the school is doing some things right in those later years, and the small size means children are known rather than anonymous. Families drawn to small-town life with access to Jackson, and who are comfortable in a school where most students come from economically disadvantaged backgrounds, may find East Flora fits what they are looking for.
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