The top reported proficiency rate is 82% in Science. The lowest is 69% in English language arts.
Original Research by School Decision on Central Elementary
Central Elementary is a two-grade school in Oxford, Mississippi, serving only fourth and fifth graders within the Oxford School District. Because the school covers just these two transitional grades, it has no graduation rate, no high school course offerings, and no lower-elementary state testing data to report. What families get here is a focused academic bridge between early elementary and middle school, and the state assessment results from the most recent year paint a fairly strong picture.
On the Mississippi Academic Assessment Program, proficiency rates in both math and English language arts were solidly above what many schools in the state post. Fourth graders showed their strongest results in math, with a large majority of tested students reaching proficient or above. Fifth graders performed similarly well in math, and their English language arts results were comparable. Science, tested only in fifth grade, stood out as the school's brightest spot, with a very high share of students clearing the proficiency bar. English language arts in fourth grade was the relatively softer area, though still well above a minimal level. A parent looking for a deeper read on why fourth-grade ELA lagged the other results may want to ask the school how reading instruction is structured across the two grades. Participation rates were not reported in the data provided, so it is not possible to confirm full test participation, though the tested counts were substantial for a school of this size.
The enrollment is moderate for a two-grade band, and the student body reflects Oxford's mixed composition. White students make up the largest group, with Black students forming the next largest, followed by smaller Hispanic, Asian, and multiracial populations. A moderate share of students qualify for free or reduced-price meals, suggesting a community that is neither deeply affluent nor heavily disadvantaged, but somewhere in the middle. Data on individualized education programs and English learner services was not available, so families whose children receive special education or language support will need to contact the school directly to understand what is offered.
Oxford itself shapes the experience of attending school here. It is a college town built around the University of Mississippi, with a historic downtown Square lined by locally owned shops and bookstores, sitting on one ridge while the university occupies another. The city's identity is deeply tied to its literary heritage, going back to William Faulkner, and the mayor's office has publicly described Oxford as a cultural center of the South. The university is the dominant employer and economic anchor, with Baptist Memorial Hospital providing healthcare jobs and a regional medical presence. Oxford-University Transit runs bus routes across the city and campus, which helps connect residential areas to downtown and university activity. Three private schools also operate in the city, giving families alternatives, alongside the public district.
The housing market reflects the college-town character. Home values sit well above the statewide benchmark and modestly above the national figure, with rents following a similar pattern. The price-to-income ratio is elevated, meaning buying a home here demands a larger share of income than in many parts of the country. Mortgage rates remain in the range seen across the country recently, and the rental market shows steady year-over-year increases. For families relocating to Oxford, housing costs will be a real consideration, especially relative to what the broader state offers.
The district brief turned up little on recent parent-relevant changes, so there is nothing to report on strategic shifts, program launches, or facility updates. The same is true for staffing ratios, discipline data, attendance figures, and course access, none of which were included in the available information. What the data does show is a school doing its job well in the two grades it covers, in a community with strong cultural and educational anchors, at a time when housing costs are running high relative to the region.
See more original research from School Decision →