Excellent
#89 of 863 schools in MS
Top 10% in state
Petal Elementary
Elementary School · PETAL SCHOOL DIST
1179 Hwy 42 E, Petal, MS 39465
Enrollment
631
Student-Teacher
13.1:1
Score
8.3
Grades
3rd – 4th
Enrollment
631
Student-Teacher
13.1:1
Score
8.3
Grades
3rd – 4th
Data vintage
2022-23
Data vintage2022-23
How this school compares
Mississippi schools
#89 of 863
In Petal
#1 of 6
public schools
In district
#1 of 5
PETAL SCHOOL DIST
Equity
9.5 / 10
Excellent
Shortlisting around Petal Elementary?
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Petal Elementary
Elementary School in Petal · grades 3rd – 4th. Start here, then compare fit against nearby and district options.
Petal High School
0.1 mi away. Use as a geographic alternative in the same move search.
Petal Primary School
0.6 mi away. Use as a geographic alternative in the same move search.
About Petal Elementary
Petal Elementary is a public elementary school in Petal, MS, part of PETAL SCHOOL DIST. Petal Elementary serves approximately 631 students, and covers grades 3rd-4th, and has a 13.1:1 student-teacher ratio. Petal Elementary has a current MySchoolScout rating of 8.3 out of 10 and ranks #89 of 863 schools in MS.
Structured state assessment records for Petal Elementary show 74% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 64% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).
- This school 8.3 · Excellent
- District avg 7.9
- MS avg 6.6
Score Breakdown
Full Profile · 3/3 metricsView breakdown
View breakdown
View breakdown
Petal Elementary — Students at Petal Elementary score 70% proficient, which is above what's typical for similar communities (expected: 61%).
Equity & Diversity
Shown separately, not included in overall scoreFree/Reduced Lunch
59.1%
Students qualifying for federal meal assistance
Test Scores MS MAAP (2024-25)
Based on 32 test records from MS state assessments. About our data
Proficiency Trend
→ StableAverage proficiency (% at or above grade level) across Math & ELA over time.
* COVID-affected year — test participation was uneven nationwide. This data is weighted at 50% in the Growth score calculation.
Source: EdFacts (NCES) and state assessment data. Growth score: 8.0/10.
How Petal Elementary Compares
See how Petal Elementary performs across key quality dimensions compared to state benchmarks.
Funding & Resources
Programs & Offerings
Data as of 2021-22 · Source: CRDC via Urban Institute · Learn more
Location
1179 Hwy 42 E, Petal, MS 39465
Nearby Alternatives
Families considering Petal Elementary may also want to explore other elementary schools in the area. ROWAN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL (rated 8.9/10, 6.5 miles away, in nearby Hattiesburg), which scores slightly higher. Another option is WOODLEY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL (rated 8.8/10, 7.3 miles away, in nearby Hattiesburg), which scores slightly higher. Additionally, NORTH FORREST ATTENDANCE CENTER (rated 8.6/10, 8.5 miles away, in nearby Hattiesburg), with a very similar rating. For more schools in Petal, see our Petal schools guide .
Nearby Schools
20 within 8.6 mi| School | Distance | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| PETAL HIGH SCHOOL Petal | 0.1 mi | 7.1 |
| PETAL PRIMARY SCHOOL Petal | 0.6 mi | 7.5 |
| MAIN STREET STATION Petal | 2.7 mi | 5.7 |
| PETAL UPPER ELEMENTARY SCHOOL Petal | 3.4 mi | 8.2 |
| PETAL MIDDLE SCHOOL Petal | 3.4 mi | 7.1 |
| SACRED HEART CATHOLIC SCHOOL Hattiesburg | 5.5 mi | 5.8 |
| RUNNELSTOWN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL Petal | 5.6 mi | 6.1 |
| EARL TRAVILLION ATTENDANCE CENTER Hattiesburg | 6.3 mi | 6.6 |
| ROWAN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL Hattiesburg | 6.5 mi | 8.9 |
| HATTIESBURG STEAM ACADEMY Hattiesburg | 6.6 mi | 8.7 |
| N R BURGER MIDDLE SCHOOL Hattiesburg | 6.7 mi | 6.7 |
| HATTIESBURG HIGH SCHOOL Hattiesburg | 6.5 mi | 6.6 |
| HAWKINS ELEMENTARY SCHOOL Hattiesburg | 6.9 mi | 7.9 |
| WOODLEY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL Hattiesburg | 7.3 mi | 8.8 |
| GRACE CHRISTIAN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL Hattiesburg | 7.3 mi | 8.1 |
| PRESBYTERIAN CHRISTIAN SCHOOL Hattiesburg | 7.9 mi | 4.3 |
| PRESBYTERIAN CHRISTIAN SCHOOL Hattiesburg | 7.9 mi | 6.2 |
| NORTH FORREST ATTENDANCE CENTER Hattiesburg | 8.5 mi | 8.6 |
| THAMES ELEMENTARY SCHOOL Hattiesburg | 8.4 mi | 6.3 |
| NORTH FORREST HIGH SCHOOL Hattiesburg | 8.6 mi | 7.3 |
Neighborhood Census ACS (2019-2023)
Census data for ZIP 39465 (ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates) · Data sources
Median Income
$73,785
Median Home Value
$166,300
Median Rent
$921/mo
Population
23,122
College Educated
25.2%
Homeownership
78.5%
Avg Commute
25.7 min
Poverty Rate
11.9%
Median Age
37.5
Similar Schools
Schools in the same state with comparable level, size, and ratings
| School | Rating |
|---|---|
| BEECHWOOD ELEMENTARY SCHOOL Vicksburg, MS | 8.3 |
| DELLA DAVIDSON ELEMENTARY Oxford, MS | 8.3 |
| HARRISON CENTRAL ELEMENTARY Gulfport, MS | 8.3 |
| HILLS CHAPEL SCHOOL Booneville, MS | 8.3 |
| LIZANA ELEMENTARY SCHOOL Gulfport, MS | 8.4 |
| NORTHWEST ELEMENTARY SCHOOL Flowood, MS | 8.4 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about Petal Elementary
What grades does Petal Elementary serve?
Petal Elementary serves students in grades 3rd through 4th.
How many students attend Petal Elementary?
Petal Elementary has an enrollment of approximately 631 students.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Petal Elementary?
The student-teacher ratio at Petal Elementary is 13.1:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.
How does Petal Elementary rank in MS?
Petal Elementary ranks #89 of 863 schools in MS.
What is Petal Elementary's MySchoolScout rating?
Petal Elementary has a current MySchoolScout rating of 8.3 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 Petal Elementary?
Based on loaded state assessment records, Petal Elementary has 74% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 64% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).
Is Petal Elementary a charter school?
No, Petal Elementary is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.
Is Petal Elementary a Title I school?
No, Petal Elementary is not currently a Title I school.
What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Petal Elementary?
59.1% of students at Petal 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.
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Neighborhood Context
Powered by 
Quick Facts NCES CCD (SY 2022-23)
- Grades
- 3rd – 4th
- Enrollment
- 631
- Student-Teacher Ratio
- 13.1:1
- Teachers (FTE)
- 48
- Free/Reduced Lunch
- 59.1%
- Type
- regular
- Setting
- Small Suburb
- County
- Forrest County
- Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
- 12.7%
- Phone
- (601) 582-7454
Resources & Links
District
PETAL SCHOOL DIST- District Enrollment
- 4,400
- Schools in District
- 5
- Per-Pupil Spending
- $11,258
- District Rank
- #1 of 5
Other Schools in This District
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