Excellent
#107 of 863 schools in MS
Top 12% in state
Petal Upper Elementary School
Middle School · Petal School Dist · Petal, MS
A Petal School Dist middle school where students score 8 points above what's typical for similar communities.
400 HILLCREST LOOP, Petal, MS 39465
- Math 71% vs MS 51% (2025)
- Reading 69% vs MS 51% (2025)
- 14.1:1 student-teacher ratio
Academics
Full Profile · 3/3 metricsView breakdown
View breakdown
View breakdown
Students at Petal Upper Elementary School score 70% proficient, which is above what's typical for similar communities (expected: 62%).
2025 MAAP proficiency
Most recent published year. School vs. MS average.
Trend
↑ RecoveringProficiency declined earlier in the 17-year record (2009–2025), then recovered 8 points since 2020, reaching 70% in 2025.
Show all 15 years
Multi-year averages used by the rating model: math 68% (multi-year average, 2009-2025) · reading/ELA 62% (multi-year average, 2009-2025)
* COVID-affected year — test participation was uneven nationwide. This data is weighted at 50% in the Growth score calculation.
Based on 33 test records from MS state assessments and EdFacts (NCES).
Equity & diversity
Shown separately, not included in the overall scoreFree/reduced lunch
57.9%
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 Petal Upper Elementary School 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 21Car-Dependent
- Bike 28Somewhat Bikeable
- City Safety: Average522/100K
Powered by
FBI Uniform Crime Reporting · 2024 · city context (Petal), 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
$73,785
Median home value
$166,300
Median rent
$921/mo
College educated
25.2%
Homeownership
78.5%
Poverty rate
11.9%
ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates for the ZCTA associated with school ZIP 39465; this is area context, not an attendance boundary.
Programs & students
Programs & Offerings
Compare nearby
Nearby same-level schools
4 from a 5-mile search; district fallback available
| School | Score | Grades | Distance | Enrollment | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sacred Heart Catholic SchoolPrivate · tuition | 5.8private | PK–12 | 2.1 mi | 591 | Compare → |
| Hattiesburg Steam AcademyEnrollment path unverified | 8.7 | 6 | 3.5 mi | 205 | Compare → |
| Presbyterian Christian SchoolPrivate · tuition | 6.2private | PK–12 | 4.7 mi | 910 | Compare → |
| Presbyterian Christian SchoolPrivate · tuition | 4.3private | PK–12 | 4.8 mi | 909 | Compare → |
Distance is proximity only; it is not attendance eligibility.
Private · tuition: Potential private option; tuition and admission requirements have not been verified.
Enrollment path unverified: Potential public school; its attendance or application path has not been classified.
Public and private scores come from different models and are shown side by side, not blended into one ranking.
Petal School Dist
- Schools in district
- 5
- Rank in district
- #2 of 5
- District spending per student
- $11,258NCES F-33 · FY 2023 · This annual source is three years behind the current year.
- District child poverty rate
- 16.7%Census SAIPE · 2024
Petal Upper Elementary School is listed in PETAL SCHOOL DIST; a district label does not verify attendance for an address.
About Petal Upper Elementary School
Petal Upper Elementary School is a public middle school in Petal, MS, part of Petal School Dist, serving approximately 665 students in grades 5th-6th with a 14.1:1 student-teacher ratio. It holds a MySchoolScout rating of 8.2 out of 10 and ranks #107 of 863 schools in MS. State assessment records show 68% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 62% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about Petal Upper Elementary School
What grades does Petal Upper Elementary School serve?
Petal Upper Elementary School serves students in grades 5th through 6th.
How many students attend Petal Upper Elementary School?
Petal Upper Elementary School has an enrollment of approximately 665 students.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Petal Upper Elementary School?
The student-teacher ratio at Petal Upper Elementary School is 14.1:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.
How does Petal Upper Elementary School rank in MS?
Petal Upper Elementary School ranks #107 of 863 schools in MS.
What is Petal Upper Elementary School's MySchoolScout rating?
Petal Upper Elementary School has a current MySchoolScout rating of 8.2 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 Upper Elementary School?
Based on loaded state assessment records, Petal Upper Elementary School has 68% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 62% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).
Is Petal Upper Elementary School a charter school?
No, Petal Upper Elementary School is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.
Is Petal Upper Elementary School a Title I school?
No, Petal Upper Elementary School is not currently a Title I school.
What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Petal Upper Elementary School?
57.9% of students at Petal Upper Elementary 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.
School factsNCES Common Core of Data (CCD) (SY 2023–24)
- Grades
- 5th – 6th
- Enrollment
- 665
- Student-Teacher Ratio
- 14.1:1
- Teachers (FTE)
- 47
- Type
- regular
- Setting
- Small Suburb
- County
- Forrest County
- Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
- 17.4%
- Phone
- (601) 584-7660
- Area population (ZIP 39465)
- 23,122
- Area average commute
- 25.7 min
- Area median age
- 37.5
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 39465; 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, 2009-2025; directory SY 2023–24
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