Average
#533 of 862 schools in MS
Petal Upper Elementary School
Middle School · PETAL SCHOOL DIST
400 HILLCREST LOOP, Petal, MS 39465
Enrollment
665
Student-Teacher
14.1:1
Score
5.9
Grades
5th – 6th
Enrollment
665
Student-Teacher
14.1:1
Score
5.9
Grades
5th – 6th
Updated
2022-23
Updated 2022-23
How this school compares
In Petal
#4 of 4
public schools
Mississippi middle schools
#95 of 183
In district
#5 of 5
PETAL SCHOOL DIST
Equity
9.3 / 10
Exceptional
About Petal Upper Elementary School
Petal Upper Elementary School serves 665 students in grades 5-6 in the small suburban community of Petal, Mississippi. This middle school operates as a regular public institution with 47 full-time equivalent teachers, maintaining a favorable student-teacher ratio of 14.1:1. The school demonstrates strong academic performance, earning a 7.6 out of 10 rating from MySchoolScout and ranking 76th out of 865 schools statewide, placing it in the 91st percentile among Mississippi schools.
Students show solid achievement across core subjects, with 71% reaching proficiency or above in mathematics and 62% meeting standards in English Language Arts and reading. These results reflect the school's commitment to academic excellence during these crucial transitional middle school years. Located at 400 Hillcrest Loop, Petal Upper Elementary serves a community where the median household income is $67,971 and the poverty rate stands at 12.8%.
The surrounding ZIP code of 39465 is home to approximately 23,000 residents, with 25% holding bachelor's degrees or higher and a median home value of $156,100. The school sits in Forrest County's welcoming suburban environment, providing students with a supportive educational setting as they navigate the important bridge between elementary and high school years.
Score Breakdown
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Petal Upper Elementary School — Students at Petal Upper Elementary School score 66% proficient, which is above what's typical for similar communities (expected: 55%).
Equity & Diversity
Shown separately, not included in overall scoreFree/Reduced Lunch
57.9%
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: 4.0/10.
How Petal Upper Elementary School Compares
See how Petal Upper Elementary School performs across key quality dimensions compared to state benchmarks.
Funding & Resources
Performance Trends
Math proficiency has declined from 78% (2019) to 71% (2022). Reading/ELA proficiency has improved from 59% (2019) to 62% (2022).
Location
400 HILLCREST LOOP, Petal, MS 39465
Nearby Alternatives
Families considering Petal Upper Elementary School may also want to explore other middle schools in the area. HATTIESBURG STEAM ACADEMY (rated 8.1/10, 3.5 miles away, in nearby Hattiesburg), which scores notably higher. Another option is N R BURGER MIDDLE SCHOOL (rated 7.3/10, 3.6 miles away, in nearby Hattiesburg), which scores notably higher. Additionally, PETAL MIDDLE SCHOOL (rated 6.4/10, 0.8 miles away), which scores slightly higher. For more schools in Petal, see our Petal schools guide .
Nearby Schools
20 within 6.8 mi| School | Distance | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| PETAL MIDDLE SCHOOL Petal | 0.8 mi | 6.4 |
| MAIN STREET STATION Petal | 1.3 mi | 5.7 |
| SACRED HEART CATHOLIC SCHOOL Hattiesburg | 2.1 mi | 5.8 |
| PETAL PRIMARY SCHOOL Petal | 3.0 mi | 6.5 |
| ROWAN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL Hattiesburg | 3.2 mi | 9.0 |
| HATTIESBURG HIGH SCHOOL Hattiesburg | 3.2 mi | 7.6 |
| PETAL HIGH SCHOOL Petal | 3.3 mi | 6.0 |
| HATTIESBURG STEAM ACADEMY Hattiesburg | 3.5 mi | 8.1 |
| N R BURGER MIDDLE SCHOOL Hattiesburg | 3.6 mi | 7.3 |
| PETAL ELEMENTARY Petal | 3.4 mi | 6.0 |
| HAWKINS ELEMENTARY SCHOOL Hattiesburg | 3.6 mi | 8.2 |
| EARL TRAVILLION ATTENDANCE CENTER Hattiesburg | 4.2 mi | 6.1 |
| WOODLEY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL Hattiesburg | 4.0 mi | 8.3 |
| GRACE CHRISTIAN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL Hattiesburg | 4.0 mi | 8.4 |
| PRESBYTERIAN CHRISTIAN SCHOOL Hattiesburg | 4.7 mi | 6.2 |
| PRESBYTERIAN CHRISTIAN SCHOOL Hattiesburg | 4.8 mi | 4.3 |
| THAMES ELEMENTARY SCHOOL Hattiesburg | 5.0 mi | 8.2 |
| WORD OF FAITH CHRISTIAN ACADEMY Hattiesburg | 5.6 mi | — |
| NORTH FORREST ATTENDANCE CENTER Hattiesburg | 6.8 mi | 8.6 |
| NORTH FORREST HIGH SCHOOL Hattiesburg | 6.8 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 Upper Elementary 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 |
|---|---|
| GULFPORT CENTRAL MIDDLE SCHOOL Gulfport, MS | 5.9 |
| NATCHEZ MIDDLE SCHOOL Natchez, MS | 6.0 |
| NORTHWEST JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL Meridian, MS | 5.8 |
| OLD TOWN MIDDLE Ridgeland, MS | 5.8 |
| GRENADA MIDDLE SCHOOL Grenada, MS | 6.1 |
| NEW HOPE MIDDLE SCHOOL Columbus, MS | 5.7 |
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 is ranked #533 out of 862 schools in MS.
What is Petal Upper Elementary School's MySchoolScout rating?
Petal Upper Elementary School has a composite rating of 5.9 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 Upper Elementary School?
Based on the most recent state assessment data, Petal Upper Elementary School has 71.8% math proficiency and 61.2% reading/ELA proficiency.
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.
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
- 5th – 6th
- Enrollment
- 665
- Student-Teacher Ratio
- 14.1:1
- Teachers (FTE)
- 47
- Free/Reduced Lunch
- 57.9%
- Type
- regular
- Setting
- Small Suburb
- County
- Forrest County
- Phone
- (601) 584-7660
- 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
- #5 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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