Best Schools in Gulfport, Mississippi
25 schools · 16 Elementary · 4 Middle · 3 High · 2 Other
Family Snapshot
At a glance- Avg school rating
- 6.4/10
- Median household income
- $48,083
- Median home value
- $176,300
- Bachelor's degree or higher
- 22%
- Avg commute
- 22 min
- Owner-occupied homes
- 53%
32% of schools rated 7+
Census ACS, ZIPs in this city
Owner-occupied units
Adults 25+
Workers age 16+
Of occupied housing units
How Gulfport compares
Mississippi rank
#57 of 120
cities by avg. school score
Vs. state average
+0.1
above Mississippi avg (6.3)
Median household income
$48k
92% of Mississippi median
Schools in this city
25
About Schools in Gulfport, Mississippi
Gulfport, Mississippi offers parents 22 ranked public schools across its two primary districts — Gulfport School District and Harrison County School District — giving families a meaningful range of options within the metro area. The city's schools average 6.5 out of 10, and 8 of those 22 schools, or 36%, score 7 or above, a solid concentration of higher performers in a mid-sized Gulf Coast city.
At the top of the list, Lyman Elementary School leads all Gulfport-area schools with an 8.2 out of 10. It's followed closely by Gulfport High School at 8.0, which stands out as the strongest-rated secondary option in the city — a meaningful data point for families planning beyond elementary years. Lizana Elementary (7.9), Bayou View Elementary (7.8), and Harrison Central Elementary (7.8) round out the top five, showing that elementary-level options are particularly competitive. Four of the five highest-rated schools are elementaries, signaling that strong early-education choices are more plentiful here than strong middle or high school options.
The 6.5 city average lands in a moderate range. That means roughly half the city's schools fall below that mark, so school choice matters more here than in cities where scores cluster tightly at the top. Parents outside the Harrison County feeder zones for Lyman or Lizana should verify their assigned school's individual score rather than assuming the district average applies to them.
Practically speaking, parents prioritizing elementary placement have the most options — five schools scoring 7.8 or higher creates genuine competition at that level. For middle and high school, the field narrows, and Gulfport High School's 8.0 rating makes it the clear standout at the secondary level. Families willing to research attendance boundaries carefully will find that Gulfport's top-tier schools are genuinely strong performers, while the city's spread from high to low rewards parents who dig into individual school data rather than relying on district-wide averages.
Elementary Schools
16 schools| # | School | Rating | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 509 students · Kindergarten–6th | 7.9 | ||
| 2 | 384 students · Kindergarten–6th | 7.8 | ||
| 3 | 525 students · Kindergarten–6th | 7.5 | ||
| 4 | 501 students · Kindergarten–3rd | 7.3 | ||
| 5 | 687 students · Kindergarten–5th | 7.1 | ||
| 6 | 487 students · Kindergarten–6th | 6.8 | ||
| 7 | 479 students · Pre-K–5th | 6.3 | ||
| 8 | 495 students · Kindergarten–6th | 6.3 | ||
| 9 | 384 students · Pre-K–5th | 6.2 | ||
| 10 | 599 students · Kindergarten–6th | 6.2 | ||
| 11 | 1,005 students · Kindergarten–8th | 5.1 | ||
| 12 | 381 students · Pre-K–5th | 4.9 | ||
| 13 | 505 students · Pre-K–5th | 4.7 | ||
| 14 | 498 students · Pre-K–5th | 3.7 | ||
| Private Schools 2 schools Private and public school ratings use different data sources and scoring models. Scores are not directly comparable across school types. | ||||
| 1 | HOPE ACADEMY
Private
157 students · Pre-K–8th | Not Rated | ||
| 2 | ST JAMES CATHOLIC SCHOOL
Private
234 students · Pre-K–6th | Not Rated | ||
Middle Schools
4 schools| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 329 students · 4th–6th | 7.0 |
| 2 | 604 students · 7th–8th | 6.8 |
| 3 | 593 students · 6th–8th | 5.9 |
| 4 | 815 students · 6th–8th | 5.5 |
High Schools
3 schools| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1,742 students · 9th–12th | 7.8 |
| 2 | 1,508 students · 9th–12th | 6.3 |
| 3 | 1,154 students · 9th–12th | 5.7 |
Other Schools
2 schools| # | School | Rating | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 78 students · 15–15 | 5.6 | ||
| 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 | TEMPLE CHRISTIAN ACADEMY
Private
60 students · Pre-K–11th | Not Rated | ||
Schools in Gulfport
Gulfport, Mississippi · 25 schools
Community Demographics
Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates across 3 ZIP codes
Median Income
$48,083
Median Home Value
$176,300
Median Rent
$1,057/mo
Population
94,920
College Educated
22%
Homeownership
53%
Avg Commute
22 min
Poverty Rate
24.3%
Community Profile
Gulfport has a median household income of $48,083. It is a community where 22% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The median home value in the area is $176,300, with a median rent of $1,057/month. The area has a poverty rate of 24.3%, indicating some economic challenges in the community. The average commute for residents is 22 minutes. Source: U.S. Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates.
Quick Facts
- State
- Mississippi
- Total Schools
- 25
- Elementary
- 16
- Middle
- 4
- High
- 3
- Districts
- 2
- Avg Rating
- 6.4/10
Resources
Nearby Cities
Other Major Cities in Mississippi
Top metros statewide by school count.
How We Rate Schools
Every school receives a composite score from 1 to 10 based on four pillars: Academic Performance (50%), Student Growth (20%), Equity (15%), and Learning Environment (15%). Scores are built from publicly available data including standardized test results, enrollment figures, and school climate indicators.
Read our full methodologyFrequently Asked Questions
Common questions about schools in Gulfport, Mississippi
How many schools are in Gulfport, Mississippi?
Gulfport has 25 schools, including 22 public and 3 private schools spanning elementary, middle, and high school levels.
What is the average school rating in Gulfport, Mississippi?
The average MySchoolScout composite score for schools in Gulfport is 6.4 out of 10, based on academic achievement, student growth, equity, and school environment.
What is the top-ranked school in Gulfport, Mississippi?
The top-ranked school in Gulfport on MySchoolScout is Lyman Elementary School with a composite score of 7.9/10.
What is the best elementary school in Gulfport, Mississippi?
The top-ranked elementary school in Gulfport on MySchoolScout is Lyman Elementary School with a composite score of 7.9/10.
What is the best middle school in Gulfport, Mississippi?
The top-ranked middle school in Gulfport on MySchoolScout is Orange Grove Elementary with a composite score of 7.0/10.
What is the best high school in Gulfport, Mississippi?
The top-ranked high school in Gulfport on MySchoolScout is Gulfport High School with a composite score of 7.8/10.
How many school districts serve Gulfport, Mississippi?
Gulfport is served by 2 school districts: Gulfport School Dist, Harrison Co School Dist.
What is the education level in Gulfport, Mississippi?
According to Census data, 22% of adults in Gulfport have earned a bachelor's degree or higher.
What is the median income in Gulfport, Mississippi?
The median household income in Gulfport is approximately $48,083 according to Census ACS 2022 estimates.
Are there private schools in Gulfport, Mississippi?
Yes, Gulfport has 3 private schools alongside 22 public schools. The top-rated private school is Temple Christian Academy with a score of 7.9/10.
What is the student-teacher ratio in Gulfport, Mississippi?
The average student-teacher ratio across schools in Gulfport is 14.1:1. This ratio varies by school, so families should check individual school profiles for specific classroom sizes.
How does MySchoolScout rate schools in Gulfport, 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 based on four components: Academic Achievement, Student Growth, Equity, and School Environment.
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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.