Average
#514 of 862 schools in MS
Petal High School
High School · PETAL SCHOOL DIST
1145 HIGHWAY 42 E, Petal, MS 39465
Enrollment
1,335
Student-Teacher
14.2:1
Score
6.0
Grades
9th – 12th
Enrollment
1,335
Student-Teacher
14.2:1
Score
6.0
Grades
9th – 12th
Updated
2022-23
Updated 2022-23
How this school compares
In Petal
#3 of 4
public schools
Mississippi high schools
#135 of 196
In district
#3 of 5
PETAL SCHOOL DIST
Academic performance
9.4 / 10
Exceptional
About Petal High School
Petal High School serves 1,335 students in grades 9-12 in this small suburban community in Forrest County, Mississippi. With 94 full-time equivalent teachers, the school maintains a favorable 14.2:1 student-teacher ratio that allows for more personalized attention in the classroom. The school demonstrates strong academic performance, earning a 7.7 out of 10 MySchoolScout rating and ranking #65 out of 865 Mississippi high schools, placing it in the 93rd percentile statewide.
Students show particularly impressive results in mathematics, with 80% achieving proficiency or above across grade levels. Reading and English language arts performance shows 58% of students meeting proficiency standards, indicating solid literacy skills among the student body. Located at 1145 Highway 42 East, Petal High School serves a community where the median household income is $67,971 and median home value is $156,100.
The surrounding ZIP code area has a population of 23,008, with 25% of residents holding bachelor's degrees or higher and a poverty rate of 12.8%. This stable suburban setting provides students with a supportive educational environment in the heart of Petal's residential community.
Score Breakdown
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Petal High School — Students at Petal High School score 69% proficient, which is above what's typical for similar communities (expected: 58%).
Equity & Diversity
Shown separately, not included in overall scoreFree/Reduced Lunch
53.7%
Students qualifying for federal meal assistance
Test Scores MS EDFACTS (2021-22)
Based on 6 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: 3.6/10.
How Petal High School Compares
See how Petal High School performs across key quality dimensions compared to state benchmarks.
Funding & Resources
Performance Trends
Math proficiency has improved from 75% (2019) to 80% (2022). Reading/ELA proficiency has declined from 61% (2019) to 58% (2022).
Location
1145 HIGHWAY 42 E, Petal, MS 39465
Nearby Alternatives
Families considering Petal High School may also want to explore other high schools in the area. HATTIESBURG HIGH SCHOOL (rated 7.6/10, 6.4 miles away, in nearby Hattiesburg), which scores notably higher. Additionally, NORTH FORREST HIGH SCHOOL (rated 7.5/10, 8.5 miles away, in nearby Hattiesburg), which scores notably higher. For more schools in Petal, see our Petal schools guide .
Nearby Schools
20 within 8.5 mi| School | Distance | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| PETAL ELEMENTARY Petal | 0.1 mi | 6.0 |
| PETAL PRIMARY SCHOOL Petal | 0.5 mi | 6.5 |
| MAIN STREET STATION Petal | 2.7 mi | 5.7 |
| PETAL UPPER ELEMENTARY SCHOOL Petal | 3.3 mi | 5.9 |
| PETAL MIDDLE SCHOOL Petal | 3.3 mi | 6.4 |
| SACRED HEART CATHOLIC SCHOOL Hattiesburg | 5.4 mi | 5.8 |
| EARL TRAVILLION ATTENDANCE CENTER Hattiesburg | 6.2 mi | 6.1 |
| RUNNELSTOWN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL Petal | 5.7 mi | 8.8 |
| ROWAN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL Hattiesburg | 6.3 mi | 9.0 |
| HATTIESBURG STEAM ACADEMY Hattiesburg | 6.5 mi | 8.1 |
| N R BURGER MIDDLE SCHOOL Hattiesburg | 6.6 mi | 7.3 |
| HATTIESBURG HIGH SCHOOL Hattiesburg | 6.4 mi | 7.6 |
| HAWKINS ELEMENTARY SCHOOL Hattiesburg | 6.8 mi | 8.2 |
| WOODLEY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL Hattiesburg | 7.2 mi | 8.3 |
| GRACE CHRISTIAN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL Hattiesburg | 7.2 mi | 8.4 |
| PRESBYTERIAN CHRISTIAN SCHOOL Hattiesburg | 7.8 mi | 4.3 |
| PRESBYTERIAN CHRISTIAN SCHOOL Hattiesburg | 7.8 mi | 6.2 |
| NORTH FORREST ATTENDANCE CENTER Hattiesburg | 8.4 mi | 8.6 |
| THAMES ELEMENTARY SCHOOL Hattiesburg | 8.3 mi | 8.2 |
| NORTH FORREST HIGH SCHOOL Hattiesburg | 8.5 mi | 7.5 |
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
Community Profile
The community surrounding Petal High School has a median household income of $73,785. It is an area where 25% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The median home value in the area is $166,300, with a median rent of $921/month. The area has a poverty rate of 11.9%. The average commute for residents is 26 minutes. Source: U.S. Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates.
Similar Schools
Schools in the same state with comparable level, size, and ratings
| School | Rating |
|---|---|
| GREENVILLE HIGH SCHOOL Greenville, MS | 6.0 |
| MERIDIAN HIGH SCHOOL Meridian, MS | 6.0 |
| OAK GROVE HIGH SCHOOL Hattiesburg, MS | 6.1 |
| SOUTHAVEN HIGH SCHOOL Southaven, MS | 6.1 |
| GEORGE COUNTY HIGH SCHOOL Lucedale, MS | 5.8 |
| HORN LAKE HIGH Horn Lake, MS | 5.8 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about Petal High School
What grades does Petal High School serve?
Petal High School serves students in grades 9th through 12th.
How many students attend Petal High School?
Petal High School has an enrollment of approximately 1,335 students.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Petal High School?
The student-teacher ratio at Petal High School is 14.2:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.
How does Petal High School rank in MS?
Petal High School is ranked #514 out of 862 schools in MS.
What is Petal High School's MySchoolScout rating?
Petal High School has a composite rating of 6.0 out of 10 on MySchoolScout. This score combines academic performance, student growth, and school environment into a single score. Equity data is shown separately for context.
What are the test scores at Petal High School?
Based on the most recent state assessment data, Petal High School has 69.3% math proficiency and 56.0% reading/ELA proficiency.
Is Petal High School a charter school?
No, Petal High School is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.
Is Petal High School a Title I school?
No, Petal High School is not currently a Title I school.
What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Petal High School?
53.7% of students at Petal High School qualify for free or reduced-price lunch. This is a commonly used indicator of economic need and provides important context when interpreting test scores.
Explore More Schools
Neighborhood Context
Powered by 
FBI UCR 2024. City-level (Petal). Data >1 year old.
Quick Facts NCES CCD (SY 2022-23)
- Grades
- 9th – 12th
- Enrollment
- 1,335
- Student-Teacher Ratio
- 14.2:1
- Teachers (FTE)
- 94
- Free/Reduced Lunch
- 53.7%
- Type
- regular
- Setting
- Small Suburb
- County
- Forrest County
- Phone
- (601) 583-3538
- Data Year
- 2023–2024
Resources & Links
District
PETAL SCHOOL DIST- District Enrollment
- 4,400
- Schools in District
- 5
- Per-Pupil Spending
- $11,258
- District Rank
- #3 of 5
Other Schools in This District
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.
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