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Very Good

#319 of 863 schools in MS

Top 37% in state

Petal High School

High School · PETAL SCHOOL DIST

1145 HIGHWAY 42 E, Petal, MS 39465

Enrollment

1,335

Student-Teacher

14.2:1

Score

7.1

Grades

9th – 12th

Data vintage2022-23

How this school compares

Mississippi schools

#319 of 863

In Petal

#5 of 6

public schools

In district

#5 of 5

PETAL SCHOOL DIST

Equity

9.5 / 10

Excellent

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Petal High School

7.1/10

High School in Petal · grades 9th – 12th. Start here, then compare fit against nearby and district options.

Petal Elementary

8.3/10

0.1 mi away. Use as a geographic alternative in the same move search.

Petal Primary School

7.5/10

0.5 mi away. Use as a geographic alternative in the same move search.

About Petal High School

Petal High School is a public high school in Petal, MS, part of PETAL SCHOOL DIST. Petal High School serves approximately 1,335 students, and covers grades 9th-12th, and has a 14.2:1 student-teacher ratio. Petal High School has a current MySchoolScout rating of 7.1 out of 10 and ranks #319 of 863 schools in MS.

Structured state assessment records for Petal High School show 76% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 65% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).

How it compares1.1 pts above MS schools
  • This school 7.1 · Very Good
  • MS avg 6.0

Score Breakdown

Full Profile · 4/4 metrics
Student Progress5.3Average25%
Year-over-year improvement in student test scores.
View breakdown
Years of Data16
Annual Change-1.45 pts/yr
Data Period2009–2025
TrendDeclining
Academics9.2Excellent25%
Student proficiency on state tests, adjusted for community poverty levels.
View breakdown
Math Proficiency81.7% (2025 MAAP)
Reading/ELA Proficiency67.6% (2025 MAAP)
Math vs. State Avg+14.7 pts
Reading vs. State Avg+18.1 pts
Overall Proficiency75% (2025 MAAP, Math+ELA)
Expected (poverty-adj.)64% (model expectation from 2025 MAAP)
vs. Expected+10.9 pts
Adjusted Percentile88th
College Readiness7.2Very Good30%
Graduation rates, AP course participation, and IB availability.
View breakdown
4-Year Graduation Rate96%
AP Participation17.8%
IB ProgramNo
Resources & Environment6.5Average20%
Student-teacher ratio, per-pupil spending, and attendance.
View breakdown
Student-Teacher Ratio14.2:1
Per-Pupil Spending$11,258
Chronic Absenteeism15.8%

Petal High School — Students at Petal High School score 75% proficient, which is above what's typical for similar communities (expected: 64%).

How we calculate scores →

Equity & Diversity

Shown separately, not included in overall score

Free/Reduced Lunch

53.7%

Students qualifying for federal meal assistance

Test Scores MS MAAP (2024-25)

Math Proficiency 76.0% (multi-year average, 2009-2025)
School
State
67.0% (2025 MAAP)
ELA Proficiency 64.8% (multi-year average, 2009-2025)
School
State
49.5% (2025 MAAP)

Based on 32 test records from MS state assessments. About our data

Proficiency Trend

→ Stable

Average proficiency (% at or above grade level) across Math & ELA over time.

2009
Math
92%
ELA
82%
2010
Math
94%
ELA
77%
2011
Math
91%
ELA
75%
2012
Math
97%
ELA
81%
2013
Math
94%
ELA
77%
2014
Math
58%
ELA
64%
2015
Math
58%
ELA
47%
2016
Math
66%
ELA
62%
2017
Math
72%
ELA
61%
2018
Math
75%
ELA
61%
2019
Math
75%
ELA
61%
2020*
Math
53%
ELA
49%
2021*
Math
53%
ELA
49%
2022
Math
80%
ELA
58%
2025
Math
81.7%
ELA
67.6%

* 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: 5.3/10.

How Petal High School Compares

See how Petal High School performs across key quality dimensions compared to state benchmarks.

Overall Score
7.1/10
63th percentile in MS
Academic
9.2/10
Excellent
Growth
5.3/10
Average
Environment
6.5/10
Average
AP Courses
3
State avg: 2.2
Sports
13
6 boys' · 7 girls'
Advanced STEM
5/5
Subjects offered

Funding & Resources

Free/Reduced Lunch
Students eligible for subsidized meals
54%
Teaching Staff
14:1 student-teacher ratio
94 teachers
Chronic Absenteeism
Students missing 15+ days per year (SY 2022-23)
15.8%

Programs & Offerings

AP/IB Programs3 AP courses offered
17.8% participation·State avg: 2.2 AP courses·CRDC 2021-22
Athletics13sports offered
6 boys'·7 girls'·17 teams (incl. JV)·CRDC 2021-22
Advanced STEM Courses5 of 5 advanced subjects offered
Algebra II, Advanced Math, Calculus, Chemistry, Physics·CRDC 2021-22

Data as of 2021-22 · Source: CRDC via Urban Institute · Learn more

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. NORTH FORREST HIGH SCHOOL (rated 7.3/10, 8.5 miles away, in nearby Hattiesburg), with a very similar rating. Additionally, HATTIESBURG HIGH SCHOOL (rated 6.6/10, 6.4 miles away, in nearby Hattiesburg), with a comparable rating. 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 8.3
PETAL PRIMARY SCHOOL Petal 0.5 mi 7.5
MAIN STREET STATION Petal 2.7 mi 5.7
PETAL UPPER ELEMENTARY SCHOOL Petal 3.3 mi 8.2
PETAL MIDDLE SCHOOL Petal 3.3 mi 7.1
SACRED HEART CATHOLIC SCHOOL Hattiesburg 5.4 mi 5.8
EARL TRAVILLION ATTENDANCE CENTER Hattiesburg 6.2 mi 6.6
RUNNELSTOWN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL Petal 5.7 mi 6.1
ROWAN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL Hattiesburg 6.3 mi 8.9
HATTIESBURG STEAM ACADEMY Hattiesburg 6.5 mi 8.7
N R BURGER MIDDLE SCHOOL Hattiesburg 6.6 mi 6.7
HATTIESBURG HIGH SCHOOL Hattiesburg 6.4 mi 6.6
HAWKINS ELEMENTARY SCHOOL Hattiesburg 6.8 mi 7.9
WOODLEY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL Hattiesburg 7.2 mi 8.8
GRACE CHRISTIAN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL Hattiesburg 7.2 mi 8.1
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 6.3
NORTH FORREST HIGH SCHOOL Hattiesburg 8.5 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
GULFPORT HIGH SCHOOL Gulfport, MS 7.1
BILOXI HIGH SCHOOL Biloxi, MS 7.2
LAFAYETTE HIGH SCHOOL Oxford, MS 6.8
NEW HOPE HIGH SCHOOL Columbus, MS 6.8
DIBERVILLE SENIOR HIGH SCH Biloxi, MS 6.7
GERMANTOWN HIGH SCHOOL Madison, MS 6.7

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 ranks #319 of 863 schools in MS.

What is Petal High School's MySchoolScout rating?

Petal High School has a current MySchoolScout rating of 7.1 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 High School?

Based on loaded state assessment records, Petal High School has 76% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 65% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).

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.

11 schools nearby View map →

Neighborhood Context

Walk Score
20 Car-Dependent
Bike Score
30 Somewhat Bikeable

Powered by Walk Score

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
Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
15.8%
4-Year Graduation
96.0%

District

PETAL SCHOOL DIST
District Enrollment
4,400
Schools in District
5
Per-Pupil Spending
$11,258
District Rank
#5 of 5

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