Average
#417 of 862 schools in MS
Top 48% in state
Petal Middle School
Middle School · PETAL SCHOOL DIST
203 East Central Avenue, Petal, MS 39465
Enrollment
680
Student-Teacher
13.3:1
Score
6.4
Grades
7th – 8th
Enrollment
680
Student-Teacher
13.3:1
Score
6.4
Grades
7th – 8th
Updated
2022-23
Updated 2022-23
How this school compares
In Petal
#2 of 4
public schools
Mississippi middle schools
#77 of 183
In district
#2 of 5
PETAL SCHOOL DIST
Academic performance
9.0 / 10
Exceptional
About Petal Middle School
Petal Middle School serves 680 seventh and eighth-grade students in the heart of Petal, Mississippi, and has established itself as one of the state's top-performing middle schools. With a MySchoolScout rating of 7.6 out of 10 and ranking 75th out of 865 schools statewide, the school places in the 91st percentile for academic achievement across Mississippi. The school's academic performance is particularly noteworthy, earning an 8.9 out of 10 academic score.
Students demonstrate strong proficiency in mathematics, with 73% scoring proficient or above, while 55% achieve proficiency in English Language Arts and reading. With 51 full-time equivalent teachers serving the student body, Petal Middle maintains a favorable 13.3-to-1 student-teacher ratio that allows for more individualized attention. The school draws from a stable suburban community where the median household income reaches $67,971 and the poverty rate stands at a relatively modest 12.8%.
About one-quarter of area residents hold bachelor's degrees or higher, reflecting a community that values education. Located on East Central Avenue in this small suburban setting of Forrest County, Petal Middle School benefits from being part of a close-knit community of approximately 23,000 residents who support their local schools.
Score Breakdown
Full Profile · 3/3 metricsView breakdown
View breakdown
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Petal Middle School — Students at Petal Middle School score 64% proficient, which is above what's typical for similar communities (expected: 55%).
Equity & Diversity
Shown separately, not included in overall scoreFree/Reduced Lunch
57.8%
Students qualifying for federal meal assistance
Test Scores MS MAAP (2023-24)
Based on 10 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: 4.9/10.
How Petal Middle School Compares
See how Petal Middle School performs across key quality dimensions compared to state benchmarks.
Funding & Resources
Performance Trends
Math proficiency has declined from 78% (2019) to 73% (2022). Reading/ELA proficiency has declined from 60% (2019) to 55% (2022).
Location
203 East Central Avenue, Petal, MS 39465
Nearby Alternatives
Families considering Petal Middle School may also want to explore other middle schools in the area. HATTIESBURG STEAM ACADEMY (rated 8.1/10, 4.1 miles away, in nearby Hattiesburg), which scores notably higher. Another option is N R BURGER MIDDLE SCHOOL (rated 7.3/10, 4.2 miles away, in nearby Hattiesburg), which scores slightly higher. Additionally, PETAL UPPER ELEMENTARY SCHOOL (rated 5.9/10, 0.8 miles away), with a comparable rating. For more schools in Petal, see our Petal schools guide .
Nearby Schools
20 within 6.1 mi| School | Distance | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| PETAL UPPER ELEMENTARY SCHOOL Petal | 0.8 mi | 5.9 |
| MAIN STREET STATION Petal | 0.8 mi | 5.7 |
| SACRED HEART CATHOLIC SCHOOL Hattiesburg | 2.5 mi | 5.8 |
| PETAL PRIMARY SCHOOL Petal | 2.9 mi | 6.5 |
| HATTIESBURG HIGH SCHOOL Hattiesburg | 3.2 mi | 7.6 |
| PETAL HIGH SCHOOL Petal | 3.3 mi | 6.0 |
| ROWAN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL Hattiesburg | 3.6 mi | 9.0 |
| PETAL ELEMENTARY Petal | 3.4 mi | 6.0 |
| HATTIESBURG STEAM ACADEMY Hattiesburg | 4.1 mi | 8.1 |
| N R BURGER MIDDLE SCHOOL Hattiesburg | 4.2 mi | 7.3 |
| HAWKINS ELEMENTARY SCHOOL Hattiesburg | 4.0 mi | 8.2 |
| GRACE CHRISTIAN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL Hattiesburg | 3.9 mi | 8.4 |
| WOODLEY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL Hattiesburg | 4.1 mi | 8.3 |
| EARL TRAVILLION ATTENDANCE CENTER Hattiesburg | 5.0 mi | 6.1 |
| PRESBYTERIAN CHRISTIAN SCHOOL Hattiesburg | 5.2 mi | 6.2 |
| PRESBYTERIAN CHRISTIAN SCHOOL Hattiesburg | 5.3 mi | 4.3 |
| THAMES ELEMENTARY SCHOOL Hattiesburg | 5.2 mi | 8.2 |
| WORD OF FAITH CHRISTIAN ACADEMY Hattiesburg | 5.3 mi | — |
| NORTH FORREST ATTENDANCE CENTER Hattiesburg | 6.1 mi | 8.6 |
| NORTH FORREST HIGH SCHOOL Hattiesburg | 6.1 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 Middle 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 |
|---|---|
| STONE MIDDLE SCHOOL Wiggins, MS | 6.4 |
| BILOXI JUNIOR HIGH Biloxi, MS | 6.6 |
| EAST CENTRAL MIDDLE SCHOOL Hurley, MS | 6.6 |
| MILAM ELEMENTARY SCHOOL Tupelo, MS | 6.2 |
| GRENADA MIDDLE SCHOOL Grenada, MS | 6.1 |
| CALEDONIA MIDDLE SCHOOL Caledonia, MS | 6.8 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about Petal Middle School
What grades does Petal Middle School serve?
Petal Middle School serves students in grades 7th through 8th.
How many students attend Petal Middle School?
Petal Middle School has an enrollment of approximately 680 students.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Petal Middle School?
The student-teacher ratio at Petal Middle School is 13.3:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.
How does Petal Middle School rank in MS?
Petal Middle School is ranked #417 out of 862 schools in MS.
What is Petal Middle School's MySchoolScout rating?
Petal Middle School has a composite rating of 6.4 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 Middle School?
Based on the most recent state assessment data, Petal Middle School has 77.1% math proficiency and 58.5% reading/ELA proficiency.
Is Petal Middle School a charter school?
No, Petal Middle School is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.
Is Petal Middle School a Title I school?
No, Petal Middle School is not currently a Title I school.
What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Petal Middle School?
57.8% of students at Petal Middle 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
- City Safety
- Average (522/100K)
FBI UCR 2024. City-level (Petal). Data >1 year old.
Quick Facts NCES CCD (SY 2022-23)
- Grades
- 7th – 8th
- Enrollment
- 680
- Student-Teacher Ratio
- 13.3:1
- Teachers (FTE)
- 51
- Free/Reduced Lunch
- 57.8%
- Type
- regular
- Setting
- Small Suburb
- County
- Forrest County
- Phone
- (601) 584-6301
- 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
- #2 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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