Petal School District

115 Highway 42
Petal, MS 39465
(District boundaries shown in map)
10/
10
Top 5%

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 is 1 public preschool serving 1,089 students in Petal School District.
Public Preschools in Petal School District have a diversity score of 0.51, which is less than the Mississippi public preschool average of 0.60.
Minority enrollment is 32% of the student body (majority Black), which is less than the Mississippi public preschool average of 55% (majority Black).

Overview

This School District
This State (MS)
# Schools
5 Schools
282 Schools
# Students
4,400 Students
125,600 Students
# Teachers
333 Teachers
10,006 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.
This School District
State Average (MS)
#5 out of 148 school districts
(Top 5%)
74%
52%
60%
42%
76%
55%
98%
89%

Students by Ethnicity:

0.49
0.60
% American Indian
n/a
n/a
% Asian
1%
1%
% Hispanic
6%
4%
% Black
18%
45%
% White
69%
45%
% Hawaiian
n/a
n/a
% Two or more races
6%
5%
All Ethnic Groups

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.
This School District
This State (MS)
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 Preschools (2025)

School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Quick Facts
60 Herrington Road
Petal, MS 39465
(601) 554-7244
Gr: PK-2 | 1,089 student Student-teacher ratio: 12:1 Minority enrollment: 32%

Recent Articles

Why Single-Sex Public Schools are Growing in Popularity
Why Single-Sex Public Schools are Growing in Popularity
This article examines the growing trend of single-sex public schools in the United States. It explores the potential benefits, research findings, and controversies surrounding gender-specific education, as well as the factors driving its increasing popularity among parents and educators.
When Teachers Cheat: The Standardized Test Controversies
When Teachers Cheat: The Standardized Test Controversies
Teachers across the country are being accused of cheating on standardized tests, using erasers to conveniently change their students’ answers. However, are these teachers driven to cheat because the funding system is flawed?
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Quick Facts (2025)

  • District size: 5 schools
  • Grades: PK-12
  • Enrollment: 4,400 students
  • Student-Teacher Ratio: 13:1
  • Minority Enrollment: 31%
  • : 98% (Top 1% in MS)
  • : Top 5%
  • : 74% (Top 5%)
  • : 60% (Top 5%)
  • : 76% (Top 5%)
  • Source: National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), MS Dept. of Education

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