Needs Improvement
#822 of 863 schools in MS
Laurel Upper Elementary
Middle School · Laurel School District · Laurel, MS
A middle school in Laurel, MS where students score 24 points below what's typical for similar communities.
600 South 16th Avenue, Laurel, MS 39440
- Math 12% vs MS 51% (2025)
- Reading 20% vs MS 51% (2025)
- 12.4:1 student-teacher ratio
Academics
Full Profile · 3/3 metricsView breakdown
View breakdown
View breakdown
Students at Laurel Upper Elementary score 16% proficient, which is below what's typical for similar communities (expected: 40%).
2025 MAAP proficiency
Most recent published year. School vs. MS average.
Trend
↑ RecoveringProficiency declined earlier in the 16-year record (2010–2025), then recovered 7 points since 2020, reaching 16% in 2025.
Show all 13 years
Multi-year averages used by the rating model: math 25% (multi-year average, 2010-2025) · reading/ELA 23% (multi-year average, 2010-2025)
* COVID-affected year — test participation was uneven nationwide. This data is weighted at 50% in the Growth score calculation.
Based on 29 test records from MS state assessments and EdFacts (NCES).
Equity & diversity
Shown separately, not included in the overall scoreFree/reduced lunch
100%
Students qualifying for federal meal assistance
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 rateThe neighborhood
Where Laurel Upper Elementary sits, and what the surrounding area looks like.
Nearby same-level schools are colored by their score. Pins are locations, not attendance boundaries.
Getting around & local context
- Walk 46Car-Dependent
- Bike 40Somewhat Bikeable
- City Safety: High4,917/100K
Powered by
FBI Uniform Crime Reporting · 2024 · city context (Laurel), not school-level safety or attendance eligibility. Source details
Source period: 2024. Freshness not available.
Area profileU.S. Census ACS 5-year estimates (ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates)
Median income
$38,687
Median home value
$112,300
Median rent
$856/mo
College educated
20.3%
Homeownership
57.7%
Poverty rate
32.1%
ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates for the ZCTA associated with school ZIP 39440; this is area context, not an attendance boundary.
Programs & students
Programs & Offerings
Compare nearby
Nearby same-level schools
1 from a 5-mile search; district fallback available
| School | Score | Grades | Distance | Enrollment | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Laurel Christian SchoolPrivate · tuition | 7.4 | PK–12 | 1.8 mi | 293 | Compare → |
Distance is proximity only; it is not attendance eligibility.
Private · tuition: Potential private option; tuition and admission requirements have not been verified.
Laurel School District
- Schools in district
- 8
- Rank in district
- #4 of 5
- District spending per student
- $12,215NCES F-33 · FY 2023 · This annual source is three years behind the current year.
- District child poverty rate
- 40.8%Census SAIPE · 2024
Laurel Upper Elementary is listed in LAUREL SCHOOL DISTRICT; a district label does not verify attendance for an address.
About Laurel Upper Elementary
Laurel Upper Elementary is a public middle school in Laurel, MS, part of Laurel School District, serving approximately 286 students in grades 5th-6th with a 12.4:1 student-teacher ratio. It holds a MySchoolScout rating of 3.4 out of 10 and ranks #822 of 863 schools in MS. State assessment records show 25% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2010-2025) and 23% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2010-2025).
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about Laurel Upper Elementary
What grades does Laurel Upper Elementary serve?
Laurel Upper Elementary serves students in grades 5th through 6th.
How many students attend Laurel Upper Elementary?
Laurel Upper Elementary has an enrollment of approximately 286 students.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Laurel Upper Elementary?
The student-teacher ratio at Laurel Upper Elementary is 12.4:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.
How does Laurel Upper Elementary rank in MS?
Laurel Upper Elementary ranks #822 of 863 schools in MS.
What is Laurel Upper Elementary's MySchoolScout rating?
Laurel Upper Elementary has a current MySchoolScout rating of 3.4 out of 10. This score combines the level-appropriate components shown in the rating breakdown; equity data is shown separately for context.
What are the test scores at Laurel Upper Elementary?
Based on loaded state assessment records, Laurel Upper Elementary has 25% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2010-2025) and 23% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2010-2025).
Is Laurel Upper Elementary a charter school?
No, Laurel Upper Elementary is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.
Is Laurel Upper Elementary a Title I school?
No, Laurel Upper Elementary is not currently a Title I school.
What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Laurel Upper Elementary?
100.0% of students at Laurel Upper Elementary qualify for free or reduced-price lunch. This is a commonly used indicator of economic need and provides important context when interpreting test scores.
School factsNCES Common Core of Data (CCD) (SY 2023–24)
- Grades
- 5th – 6th
- Enrollment
- 286
- Student-Teacher Ratio
- 12.4:1
- Teachers (FTE)
- 23
- Type
- regular
- Setting
- Distant Town
- County
- Jones County
- Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
- 33.6%
- Phone
- (601) 428-8573
- Area population (ZIP 39440)
- 20,111
- Area average commute
- 18.1 min
- Area median age
- 33.5
Official sources & links
About this school's data
Every number on this page comes from a published source with a stated period. Where a source is partial, aging, or describes a surrounding area rather than the school, that limitation is named below.
- School directory (enrollment, grades, staff, contact)
- NCES Common Core of Data (CCD) · SY 2023–24 · Medium confidence
- Source period: SY 2023–24. A newer release may be available.
- MySchoolScout rating and rank
- MySchoolScout ranking model · Low confidence
- Vintage not available. Do not use this measure alone.
- Derived as a weighted blend of the component scores shown in Academics from state assessment, EdFacts growth, and NCES resource records.
- Math proficiency
- State department of education · 2025 MAAP · Medium confidence
- Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
- Source period: 2025 MAAP. A newer release may be available.
- Derived from source records rather than read directly from one field.
- Reading/ELA proficiency
- State department of education · 2025 MAAP · Medium confidence
- Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
- Source period: 2025 MAAP. A newer release may be available.
- Derived from source records rather than read directly from one field.
- Student progress (growth)
- NCES EdFacts · Mixed source periods · Low confidence
- Vintage not available. Do not use this measure alone.
- Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
- Derived as the fitted year-over-year slope of proficiency from multi-year assessment records.
- Neighborhood (income, housing, education)
- U.S. Census ACS 5-year estimates · ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates · Low confidence
- Older source: ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates. Use as historical context.
- Reported for the ZCTA for ZIP 39440; this does not measure the attendance area.
- Programs (AP/IB, athletics, gifted)
- CRDC via Urban Institute · SY 2021–22 · Medium confidence
- Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
- Source period: SY 2021–22. A newer release may be available.
Evidence periods: Rating mixed/unknown input periods; assessments multi-year average, 2010-2025; directory SY 2023–24
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