Laurel School District

303 West 8th Street
Laurel, MS 39440
(District boundaries shown in map)
: 
2/
10
Bottom 50%
For the 2026-27 school year, there are 5 public elementary schools serving 1,500 students in Laurel School District. This district's average elementary testing ranking is 4/10, which is in the bottom 50% of public elementary schools in Mississippi.
Public Elementary Schools in Laurel School District have an average math proficiency score of 39% (versus the Mississippi public elementary school average of 51%), and reading proficiency score of 32% (versus the 43% statewide average).
Minority enrollment is 98% of the student body (majority Black), which is more than the Mississippi public elementary school average of 58% (majority Black).

Overview

This School District
This State (MS)
# Schools
8 Schools
680 Schools
# Students
2,620 Students
286,688 Students
# Teachers
161 Teachers
19,842 Teachers
Student-Teacher Ratio
16:1
16:1

Student By Grade

District Rank

Laurel School District, which is ranked within the bottom 50% of all 147 school districts in Mississippi (based off of combined math and reading proficiency testing data) for the 2022-2023 school year.
The school district's graduation rate of 82% has increased from 75-79% over five school years.
This School District
State Average (MS)
#119 out of 148 school districts
(Bottom 50%)

Showing 2013–2023. Full 14-year historical data available below ↓

24%
52%

Showing 2013–2023. Full 14-year historical data available below ↓

27%
42%

Showing 2012–2022. Full 13-year historical data available below ↓

34%
55%
82%
89.4%

Showing 2014–2023. Full 13-year historical data available below ↓

(2022-23)
39.8%
26.5%

Students by Ethnicity:

0.33
0.63

Showing 2014–2023. Full 35-year historical data available below ↓

% American Indian
n/a
1%
% Asian
n/a
1%
% Hispanic
14%
7%

Showing 2014–2023. Full 23-year historical data available below ↓

% Black
81%
43%

Showing 2014–2023. Full 35-year historical data available below ↓

% White
2%
42%

Showing 2014–2023. Full 35-year historical data available below ↓

% Hawaiian
n/a
n/a
% Two or more races
3%
6%
All Ethnic Groups

District Revenue and Spending

The revenue/student of $18,361 is higher than the state median of $14,756. The school district revenue/student has grown by 12% over four school years.
The school district's spending/student of $17,901 is higher than the state median of $14,421. The school district spending/student has grown by 33% over four school years.
This School District
This State (MS)
Total Revenue
$48 MM
$6,387 MM

Showing 2014–2023. Full 34-year historical data available below ↓

Spending
$47 MM
$6,242 MM

Showing 2014–2023. Full 34-year historical data available below ↓

Revenue / Student
$18,361
$14,756

Showing 2014–2023. Full 34-year historical data available below ↓

Spending / Student
$17,901
$14,421

Showing 2014–2023. Full 34-year historical data available below ↓

Best Laurel School District Public Elementary Schools (2026-27)

School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Quick Facts
Rank: #11.
Laurel Magnet School Of The Arts
Magnet School
(Math: ≥95% | Reading: 80-84%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 1%
1125 North 5th Avenue
Laurel, MS 39440
(601) 428-7446
Gr: PK-6 | 323 students Student-teacher ratio: 16:1 Minority enrollment: 96%
Rank: #22.
Oak Park Elementary School
(Math: 25-29% | Reading: 15-19%)
Rank:
2/
10
Bottom 50%
1205 Oak Park Avenue
Laurel, MS 39440
(601) 428-5046
Gr: PK-1 | 405 students Student-teacher ratio: 19:1 Minority enrollment: 99%
Rank: #33.
Laurel Upper Elementary School
(Math: 13% | Reading: 16%)
Rank:
1/
10
Bottom 50%
600 South 16th Avenue
Laurel, MS 39440
(601) 649-8573
Gr: 5-6 | 253 students Student-teacher ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 99%
Rank: n/an/a
Laurel Education Center
Alternative School
795 South 19th Avenue
Laurel, MS 39440
(601) 649-5195
Gr: 4-12
Rank: n/an/a
1305 Martin Luther King Ave
Laurel, MS 39440
(601) 438-3140
Gr: 2-4 | 519 students Student-teacher ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 99%

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Quick Facts (26-27)

  • District size: 8 schools
  • Grades: PK-12
  • Enrollment: 2,620 students
  • Student-Teacher Ratio: 16:1
  • Minority Enrollment: 98%
  • : 82% (Btm 50% in MS)
  • : Bottom 50%
  • : 24% (Btm 50%)
  • : 27% (Btm 50%)
  • : 34% (Btm 50%)
  • Source: National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), MS Dept. of Education

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