Top Rankings
Petal School District ranks among the top 20% of public school district in Mississippi for:
Category
Attribute
Overall Rank
Highest overall rank (Top 5%)
Math Proficiency
Highest math proficiency (Top 5%)
Reading/Language Arts Proficiency
Highest reading/language arts proficiency (Top 5%)
Science Proficiency
Highest science proficiency (Top 5%)
Graduation Rate
Highest graduation rate (Top 1%)
Community Size
Largest student body (number of students) (Top 1%)
For the 2025 school year, there are 5 public schools serving 4,400 students in Petal School District. This district's average testing ranking is 10/10, which is in the top 5% of public schools in Mississippi.
Public Schools in Petal School District have an average math proficiency score of 73% (versus the Mississippi public school average of 47%), and reading proficiency score of 59% (versus the 42% statewide average).
Minority enrollment is 31% of the student body (majority Black), which is less than the Mississippi public school average of 58% (majority Black).
Overview
This School District
This State (MS)
# Schools
5 Schools
1,043 Schools
# Students
4,400 Students
440,091 Students
# Teachers
333 Teachers
33,811 Teachers
Student : Teacher Ratio
13:1
13:1
District Rank
Petal School District, which is ranked within the top 5% of all 148 school districts in Mississippi (based off of combined math and reading proficiency testing data) for the 2021-2022 school year.
The school district's graduation rate of 99% has increased from 87% over five school years.
Overall District Rank
#5 out of 148 school districts
(Top 5%)
(Top 5%)
Math Test Scores (% Proficient)
72%
47%
Reading/Language Arts Test Scores (% Proficient)
60%
42%
Science Test Scores (% Proficient)
76%
55%
Graduation Rate
≥99%
89%
Students by Ethnicity:
Diversity Score
0.49
0.61
# American Indian Students
3 Students
2,933 Students
% American Indian Students
n/a
1%
# Asian Students
28 Students
4,926 Students
% Asian Students
1%
1%
# Hispanic Students
259 Students
21,669 Students
% Hispanic Students
6%
5%
# Black Students
797 Students
205,626 Students
% Black Students
18%
47%
# White Students
3,019 Students
184,374 Students
% White Students
69%
42%
# Hawaiian Students
5 Students
302 Students
% Hawaiian Students
n/a
n/a
# Two or more races Students
289 Students
20,261 Students
% of Two or more races Students
6%
4%
Students by Grade:
# Students in PK Grade:
59
9,307
# Students in K Grade:
314
32,822
# Students in 1st Grade:
323
33,793
# Students in 2nd Grade:
356
33,611
# Students in 3rd Grade:
317
32,438
# Students in 4th Grade:
305
30,795
# Students in 5th Grade:
324
30,335
# Students in 6th Grade:
333
32,213
# Students in 7th Grade:
311
33,697
# Students in 8th Grade:
362
32,414
# Students in 9th Grade:
366
35,648
# Students in 10th Grade:
383
34,938
# Students in 11th Grade:
305
32,214
# Students in 12th Grade:
265
28,189
# Ungraded Students:
77
7,677
District Revenue and Spending
The revenue/student of $10,048 in this school district is less than the state median of $12,205. The school district revenue/student has declined by 6% over four school years.
The school district's spending/student of $9,383 is less than the state median of $12,074. The school district spending/student has declined by 6% over four school years.
Total Revenue
$44 MM
$5,371 MM
Spending
$41 MM
$5,314 MM
Revenue / Student
$10,048
$12,205
Spending / Student
$9,383
$12,074
Best Petal School District Public Schools (2025)
School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Grades
Students
Rank: #11.
Petal High School
(Math: 80% | Reading: 58%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 10%10
1145 Highway 42 E
Petal, MS 39465
(601) 583-3538
Petal, MS 39465
(601) 583-3538
Grades: 9-12
| 1,335 students
Rank: #22.
Petal Elementary School
(Math: 70% | Reading: 63%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 10%10
1179 Hwy 42 E
Petal, MS 39465
(601) 582-7454
Petal, MS 39465
(601) 582-7454
Grades: 3-4
| 631 students
Rank: #33.
Petal Upper Elementary School
(Math: 71% | Reading: 62%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 10%10
400 Hillcrest Loop
Petal, MS 39465
(601) 584-7660
Petal, MS 39465
(601) 584-7660
Grades: 5-6
| 665 students
Rank: #44.
Petal Middle School
(Math: 73% | Reading: 55%)
Rank:
Rank:
9/
Top 20%10
203 East Central Avenue
Petal, MS 39465
(601) 584-6301
Petal, MS 39465
(601) 584-6301
Grades: 7-8
| 680 students
Rank: n/an/a
60 Herrington Road
Petal, MS 39465
(601) 554-7244
Petal, MS 39465
(601) 554-7244
Grades: PK-2
| 1,089 students
Frequently Asked Questions
How many schools belong to Petal School District?
Petal School District manages 5 public schools serving 4,400 students.
What is the rank of Petal School District?
Petal School District is ranked #5 out of 148 school districts in Mississippi (top 5%) based off of combined math and reading proficiency testing data for the 2021-2022 school year. This district ranks in the top 20% of Mississippi school districts for: Highest overall rank (Top 5%), Highest math proficiency (Top 5%), Highest reading/language arts proficiency (Top 5%), Highest science proficiency (Top 5%), Highest graduation rate (Top 1%) and Largest student body (number of students) (Top 1%)
What is the racial composition of students in Petal School District?
69% of Petal School District students are White, 18% of students are Black, 6% of students are Hispanic, 6% of students are Two or more races, and 1% of students are Asian.
What is the student/teacher ratio of Petal School District?
Petal School District has a student/teacher ratio of 13:1, which is equal to the Mississippi state average of 13:1.
What is Petal School District's spending/student ratio?
The school district's spending/student of $9,383 is less than the state median of $12,074. The school district spending/student has declined by 6% over four school years.
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