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 2026 school year, there are 5 public schools serving 4,250 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 74% (versus the Mississippi public school average of 53%), and reading proficiency score of 59% (versus the 42% statewide average).
Minority enrollment is 32% of the student body (majority Black), which is less than the Mississippi public school average of 59% (majority Black).
Overview
This School District
This State (MS)
# Schools
5 Schools
1,028 Schools
# Students
4,250 Students
432,864 Students
# Teachers
327 Teachers
30,920 Teachers
Student-Teacher Ratio
13:1
13:1
Student By Grade
District Rank
Petal School District, which is ranked within the top 5% 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 98% has increased from 88% over five school years.
Overall District Rank
#5 out of 148 school districts
(Top 5%)
(Top 5%)
Math Test Scores (% Proficient)
74%
52%
Reading/Language Arts Test Scores (% Proficient)
60%
42%
Science Test Scores (% Proficient)
76%
55%
Graduation Rate
98%
89%
Chronically Absent Students
(2022-23)16.9%
26.5%
Students by Ethnicity:
Diversity Score
0.50
0.63
% American Indian
n/a
1%
% Asian
1%
1%
% Hispanic
9%
7%
% Black
18%
45%
% White
68%
40%
% Hawaiian
n/a
n/a
% Two or more races
4%
6%
All Ethnic Groups
District Revenue and Spending
The revenue/student of $10,403 in this school district is less than the state median of $12,408. The school district revenue/student has stayed relatively flat over four school years.
The school district's spending/student of $9,714 is less than the state median of $12,276. The school district spending/student has stayed relatively flat over four school years.
Total Revenue
$44 MM
$5,371 MM
Spending
$41 MM
$5,314 MM
Revenue / Student
$10,403
$12,408
Spending / Student
$9,714
$12,276
Best Petal School District Public Schools (2026)
School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Quick Facts
Rank: #11.
Petal High School
(Math: 91% | Reading: 58%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 5%10
1145 Highway 42 E
Petal, MS 39465
(601) 545-1229
Petal, MS 39465
(601) 545-1229
Gr: 9-13 | 1,321 students Student-teacher ratio: 13:1 Minority enrollment: 32%
Rank: #22.
Petal Elementary 3-4
(Math: 72% | Reading: 63%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 10%10
1179 Hwy 42 E
Petal, MS 39465
(601) 584-9400
Petal, MS 39465
(601) 584-9400
Gr: 3-4 | 636 students Student-teacher ratio: 13:1 Minority enrollment: 31%
Rank: #33.
Petal Upper Elementary School
(Math: 68% | Reading: 62%)
Rank:
Rank:
9/
Top 20%10
400 Hillcrest Loop
Petal, MS 39465
(601) 584-7660
Petal, MS 39465
(601) 584-7660
Gr: 5-6 | 632 students Student-teacher ratio: 12:1 Minority enrollment: 32%
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
Gr: 7-8 | 645 students Student-teacher ratio: 13:1 Minority enrollment: 28%
Rank: n/an/a
60 Herrington Road
Petal, MS 39465
(601) 554-7244
Petal, MS 39465
(601) 554-7244
Gr: PK-2 | 1,016 students Student-teacher ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 33%
Frequently Asked Questions
How many schools belong to Petal School District?
Petal School District manages 5 public schools serving 4,250 students.
What is the rank of Petal School District?
Petal School District is ranked #5 out of 147 school districts in Mississippi (top 5%) based off of combined math and reading proficiency testing data for the 2022-2023 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?
68% of Petal School District students are White, 18% of students are Black, 9% of students are Hispanic, 4% 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 lower than the Mississippi state average of 14:1.
What is Petal School District's spending/student ratio?
The school district's spending/student of $9,714 is less than the state median of $12,276. The school district spending/student has stayed relatively flat over four school years.
Recent Articles
What Rising E-Bike and Traffic Concerns Mean for School Commutes
Discover how rising e-bike use and increasing traffic are changing school commutes, and what parents should evaluate before choosing a public school.
School Safety Beyond Lockdowns: What Parents Should Review
Learn how to evaluate a public school's safety beyond lockdown drills, including school climate, emergency planning, mental health support, and communication.
How to Judge Special Education Capacity Before You Enroll
Learn how to evaluate a public school's special education capacity before enrolling your child, from staffing and IEP implementation to inclusion and support services.
