Best Schools in Bay St. Louis, Mississippi
8 schools · 3 Elementary · 1 Middle · 4 High
Choosing a school in Bay St. Louis?
Use this page to compare every school in Bay St. Louis by level, neighborhood, and district — and find the right fit, not just the top of the list.
Shortlist starter
Start with these real page-level signals, then use the full table and map below.
Bay High School
High · Bay St Louis Waveland School Dist. Ranked from real test data; use the map and table below to check address fit.
North Bay Elementary School
Elementary · Bay St Louis Waveland School Dist. Ranked from real test data; use the map and table below to check address fit.
Bay Waveland Middle School
Middle · Bay St Louis Waveland School Dist. Ranked from real test data; use the map and table below to check address fit.
The short answer
The top-rated schools in Bay St. Louis for 2026 are Bay High School (9.1/10), North Bay Elementary School (9.1/10), and Bay Waveland Middle School (8.2/10), based on MySchoolScout's analysis of real test data across 7 rated schools. Ratings blend student growth, poverty-adjusted academic achievement, and school environment (plus college readiness for high schools), with equity shown as context, not scored; schools with estimated (proxy) scores are excluded from this ranking.
Schools
8
4 public · 4 private
Avg Score
7.7
out of 10
Median Home
$202,600
home value · ACS
Districts
2
serving the city
Schools
8
4 public · 4 private
Avg Score
7.7
out of 10
Median Home
$202,600
home value · ACS
Districts
2
serving the city
STAAR proficiency rose +11.5 points from 2022 to 2024. That's the biggest jump among Bay St. Louis schools across the two most recent comparable testing years.
Top-Rated Schools in Bay St. Louis
Ranked by MySchoolScout composite using only schools with real test data (7 of 8). "Value" = points above what student poverty predicts. Estimated (proxy) scores are excluded.
| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bay High School | 9.1 / 10 |
| 2 | North Bay Elementary School | 9.1 / 10 |
| 3 | Bay Waveland Middle School | 8.2 / 10 |
| 4 | Holy Trinity Catholic School | 7.4 / 10 |
| 5 | South Hancock Elementary School | 7.1 / 10 |
| 6 | Our Lady Academy | 6.5 / 10 |
| 7 | St Stanislaus | 6.4 / 10 |
See every school — including those with estimated data — in the full directory below. How we rate schools.
Family Snapshot
At a glance- Avg school rating
- 7.7/10
- Median household income
- $65,139
- Median home value
- $202,600
- Bachelor's degree or higher
- 28%
- Avg commute
- 32 min
- Owner-occupied homes
- 74%
71% of schools rated 7+
Census ACS, ZIPs in this city
Owner-occupied units
Adults 25+
Workers age 16+
Of occupied housing units
How Bay St. Louis compares
Mississippi rank
#5 of 120
cities by avg. school score
Vs. state average
+1.4
above Mississippi avg (6.3)
Median household income
$65k
125% of Mississippi median
Schools in this city
7
About Schools in Bay St. Louis, Mississippi
Bay St. Louis, Mississippi is home to 8 schools, including 4 public schools and 4 private schools. The city's schools span 3 elementary schools, 1 middle school, and 4 high schools.
With an average rating of 7.7 out of 10, schools in Bay St. Louis perform strongly on the MySchoolScout composite scale, which blends student growth, poverty-adjusted academic achievement, and school environment — plus college readiness for high schools.
The highest-performing school in Bay St. Louis is Bay High School with a composite score of 9.1/10, demonstrating strong academic outcomes and school quality metrics.
Bay St. Louis is served by 2 school districts: BAY ST LOUIS WAVELAND SCHOOL DIST, HANCOCK CO SCHOOL DIST. These districts collectively serve 5,689 students.
Bay St. Louis's community shows 28% bachelor's degree attainment with a median household income of $65,139. The poverty rate in the area is 14.8%.
Browse the schools below to compare ratings, test scores, enrollment, and other key metrics. Use the filters to focus on specific school levels or types that match your family's needs.
Elementary Schools
3 schools| # | School | Rating | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 476 students · 2nd–5th | 9.1 | ||
| 2 | 494 students · Pre-K–5th | 7.1 | ||
| Private Schools 1 school Private and public school ratings use different data sources and scoring models. Scores are not directly comparable across school types. | ||||
| 1 | Holy Trinity Catholic School
Private
195 students · Pre-K–6th | 7.4 | ||
Middle Schools
1 school| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 374 students · 6th–8th | 8.2 |
High Schools
4 schools| # | School | Rating | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 499 students · 9th–12th | 9.1 | ||
| Private Schools 3 schools Private and public school ratings use different data sources and scoring models. Scores are not directly comparable across school types. | ||||
| 1 | Our Lady Academy
Private
256 students · 7th–12th | 6.5 | ||
| 2 | St Stanislaus
Private
311 students · 7th–12th | 6.4 | ||
| 3 | Dominion Christian Academy, Inc.
Private
6 students · 5th–12th | — | ||
Schools in Bay St. Louis
Bay St. Louis, Mississippi · 8 schools
Community Demographics
Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates across 1 ZIP code
Median Income
$65,139
Median Home Value
$202,600
Median Rent
$1,067/mo
Population
15,471
College Educated
28%
Homeownership
74%
Avg Commute
32 min
Poverty Rate
14.8%
Community Profile
Bay St. Louis has a median household income of $65,139. It is an area where 28% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The median home value in the area is $202,600, with a median rent of $1,067/month. The area has a poverty rate of 14.8%. The average commute for residents is 32 minutes. Source: U.S. Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates.
Schools by Level
- State
- Mississippi
- Elementary
- 3
- Middle
- 1
- High
- 4
Resources
Nearby Cities
Other Major Cities in Mississippi
Top metros statewide by school count.
How we rate schools
A clear 1–10 score built from public data — growth, academics, and learning environment. No hidden criteria, no pay-to-play.
See how we rateFrequently Asked Questions
Common questions about schools in Bay St. Louis, Mississippi
How many schools are in Bay St. Louis, Mississippi?
Bay St. Louis has 8 schools, including 4 public and 4 private schools spanning elementary, middle, and high school levels.
What is the average school rating in Bay St. Louis, Mississippi?
The average MySchoolScout composite score for schools in Bay St. Louis is 7.7 out of 10, built from student growth, poverty-adjusted academic achievement, and school environment — plus college readiness for high schools.
What is the top-ranked school in Bay St. Louis, Mississippi?
The top-ranked school in Bay St. Louis on MySchoolScout is Bay High School with a composite score of 9.1/10.
What is the best elementary school in Bay St. Louis, Mississippi?
The top-ranked elementary school in Bay St. Louis on MySchoolScout is North Bay Elementary School with a composite score of 9.1/10.
What is the best middle school in Bay St. Louis, Mississippi?
The top-ranked middle school in Bay St. Louis on MySchoolScout is Bay Waveland Middle School with a composite score of 8.2/10.
What is the best high school in Bay St. Louis, Mississippi?
The top-ranked high school in Bay St. Louis on MySchoolScout is Bay High School with a composite score of 9.1/10.
How many school districts serve Bay St. Louis, Mississippi?
Bay St. Louis is served by 2 school districts: Bay St Louis Waveland School Dist, Hancock Co School Dist.
What is the education level in Bay St. Louis, Mississippi?
According to Census data, 28% of adults in Bay St. Louis have earned a bachelor's degree or higher.
What is the median income in Bay St. Louis, Mississippi?
The median household income in Bay St. Louis is approximately $65,139 according to Census ACS 2022 estimates.
Are there private schools in Bay St. Louis, Mississippi?
Yes, Bay St. Louis has 4 private schools alongside 4 public schools. The top-rated private school is Holy Trinity Catholic School with a score of 7.4/10.
What is the student-teacher ratio in Bay St. Louis, Mississippi?
The average student-teacher ratio across schools in Bay St. Louis is 11.1:1. This ratio varies by school, so families should check individual school profiles for specific classroom sizes.
How does MySchoolScout rate schools in Bay St. Louis, Mississippi?
MySchoolScout rates schools using publicly available data from the NCES Common Core of Data and state education departments. Each school receives a 1-10 composite score built from Student Growth, Poverty-Adjusted Academic Achievement, and School Environment — plus College Readiness for high schools. Weights vary by school level, and equity data is shown for context but not scored.
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Data from NCES Common Core of Data, Mississippi Dept. of Education, and U.S. Census ACS for the 2023–24 school year. Rankings computed by MySchoolScout. See all data sources.