Skip to main content

Excellent

#14 of 862 schools in MS

Top 2% in state

Runnelstown Elementary School

Elementary School · PERRY CO SCHOOL DIST

9214 HIGHWAY 42, Petal, MS 39465

Enrollment

200

Student-Teacher

9.1:1

Score

8.8

Grades

Kindergarten – 5th

Updated 2022-23

How this school compares

In Petal

#1 of 4

public schools

Mississippi elementary schools

#11 of 436

In district

#1 of 4

PERRY CO SCHOOL DIST

School environment

9.5 / 10

Exceptional

About Runnelstown Elementary School

Runnelstown Elementary School is a public elementary school in Petal, MS, part of the PERRY CO SCHOOL DIST. The school serves approximately 200 students in grades Kindergarten – 5th with a student-teacher ratio of 9.1:1. It holds a MySchoolScout rating of 8.8/10, placing it in the 98.5th percentile among MS schools — an above average rating overall.

Students demonstrate 40% proficiency in math, 15 points below the state average and 47% in reading/language arts, 9 points below the state average. The school scores particularly well in school environment (9.5/10). Located in a neighborhood with a median household income of $73,785, where 25% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

The school is situated in a distant rural setting.

What Parents Should Know

With a student-teacher ratio of 9.1:1, Runnelstown Elementary School offers a notably low ratio compared to the national average. This typically means smaller class sizes and more opportunities for one-on-one interaction between students and teachers.

Located in a rural area, Runnelstown Elementary School may involve longer commutes for some families. Rural schools often serve as community anchors and may have smaller class sizes, but parents should consider transportation logistics, after-school program availability, and access to specialized services.

Score Breakdown

Full Profile · 3/3 metrics
Student Progress8.8Excellent50%
Year-over-year improvement in student test scores.
View breakdown
Years of Data4
Annual Change+3.73 pts/yr
Data Period2019–2024
TrendImproving
Academics8.4Excellent30%
Student proficiency on state tests, adjusted for community poverty levels.
View breakdown
Math Proficiency62%
Reading/ELA Proficiency47%
Math vs. State Avg+7.6 pts
Reading vs. State Avg-11.6 pts
Overall Proficiency55%
Expected (poverty-adj.)45%
vs. Expected+9.2 pts
Adjusted Percentile75th
College ReadinessNot Available

Data not available for this school

Resources & Environment9.5Exceptional20%
Student-teacher ratio, per-pupil spending, and attendance.
View breakdown
Student-Teacher Ratio9.1:1
Per-Pupil Spending$14,180

Runnelstown Elementary School — Students at Runnelstown Elementary School score 54% proficient, which is above what's typical for similar communities (expected: 45%).

How we calculate scores →

Equity & Diversity

Shown separately, not included in overall score

Free/Reduced Lunch

76%

Students qualifying for federal meal assistance

Test Scores MS MAAP (2023-24)

Math Proficiency 40.0%
School
State
54.6%
ELA Proficiency 47.3%
School
State
56.0%

Based on 12 test records from MS state assessments. About our data

Proficiency Trend

↑ Improving

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

2019
Math
22%
ELA
42%
2021*
Math
27%
ELA
37%
2022
Math
62%
ELA
47%
2024
Math
43%
ELA
52.6%

* 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: 8.8/10.

How Runnelstown Elementary School Compares

See how Runnelstown Elementary School performs across key quality dimensions compared to state benchmarks.

Overall Score
8.8/10
99th percentile in MS
Academic
8.4/10
8.4/10
Growth
8.8/10
Above average
Environment
9.5/10
Above average

Funding & Resources

Free/Reduced Lunch
Students eligible for subsidized meals
76%
Teaching Staff
9:1 student-teacher ratio
22 teachers

Location

9214 HIGHWAY 42, Petal, MS 39465

Nearby Alternatives

Families considering Runnelstown Elementary School may also want to explore other elementary schools in the area. ROWAN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL (rated 9.0/10, 12.0 miles away, in nearby Hattiesburg), with a very similar rating. Another option is GRACE CHRISTIAN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL (rated 8.4/10, 12.8 miles away, in nearby Hattiesburg), with a comparable rating. Additionally, WOODLEY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL (rated 8.3/10, 12.9 miles away, in nearby Hattiesburg), with a comparable rating. For more schools in Petal, see our Petal schools guide .

Nearby Schools

20 within 12.9 mi
School Distance Rating
PETAL ELEMENTARY Petal 5.6 mi 6.0
PETAL HIGH SCHOOL Petal 5.7 mi 6.0
PETAL PRIMARY SCHOOL Petal 6.0 mi 6.5
MAIN STREET STATION Petal 8.2 mi 5.7
PETAL UPPER ELEMENTARY SCHOOL Petal 8.9 mi 5.9
PETAL MIDDLE SCHOOL Petal 8.9 mi 6.4
RICHTON HIGH SCHOOL Richton 10.2 mi 7.3
RICHTON ELEMENTARY SCHOOL Richton 10.2 mi 7.6
EARL TRAVILLION ATTENDANCE CENTER Hattiesburg 11.2 mi 6.1
SACRED HEART CATHOLIC SCHOOL Hattiesburg 11.0 mi 5.8
PERRY CENTRAL MIDDLE SCHOOL New Augusta 12.9 mi 5.9
HATTIESBURG STEAM ACADEMY Hattiesburg 12.0 mi 8.1
ROWAN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL Hattiesburg 12.0 mi 9.0
N R BURGER MIDDLE SCHOOL Hattiesburg 12.1 mi 7.3
HATTIESBURG HIGH SCHOOL Hattiesburg 12.1 mi 7.6
HAWKINS ELEMENTARY SCHOOL Hattiesburg 12.4 mi 8.2
MOSELLE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL Moselle 13.1 mi 7.0
PERRY CENTRAL HIGH SCHOOL New Augusta 14.1 mi 6.5
GRACE CHRISTIAN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL Hattiesburg 12.8 mi 8.4
WOODLEY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL Hattiesburg 12.9 mi 8.3

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

Community Profile

The community surrounding Runnelstown 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
A W JAMES ELEMENTARY SCHOOL Drew, MS 8.8
NICHOLS ELEMENTARY SCHOOL Biloxi, MS 8.8
JACKSON ELEMENTARY SCHOOL Pascagoula, MS 8.9
WEIR ELEMENTARY SCHOOL Weir, MS 8.7
NORTH FORREST ATTENDANCE CENTER Hattiesburg, MS 8.6
ST RICHARD CATHOLIC SCHOOL Jackson, MS 8.5

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about Runnelstown Elementary School

What grades does Runnelstown Elementary School serve?

Runnelstown Elementary School serves students in grades Kindergarten through 5th.

How many students attend Runnelstown Elementary School?

Runnelstown Elementary School has an enrollment of approximately 200 students.

What is the student-teacher ratio at Runnelstown Elementary School?

The student-teacher ratio at Runnelstown Elementary School is 9.1:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.

How does Runnelstown Elementary School rank in MS?

Runnelstown Elementary School is ranked #14 out of 862 schools in MS.

What is Runnelstown Elementary School's MySchoolScout rating?

Runnelstown Elementary School has a composite rating of 8.8 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 Runnelstown Elementary School?

Based on the most recent state assessment data, Runnelstown Elementary School has 40.0% math proficiency and 47.3% reading/ELA proficiency.

Is Runnelstown Elementary School a charter school?

No, Runnelstown Elementary School is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.

Is Runnelstown Elementary School a Title I school?

No, Runnelstown Elementary School is not currently a Title I school.

What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Runnelstown Elementary School?

76.0% of students at Runnelstown 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.

11 schools nearby View map →

Neighborhood Context

Walk Score
21 Car-Dependent
Bike Score
28 Somewhat Bikeable
City Safety
Average (522/100K)

Powered by Walk Score

FBI UCR 2024. City-level (Petal). Data >1 year old.

Quick Facts NCES CCD (SY 2022-23)

Grades
Kindergarten – 5th
Enrollment
200
Student-Teacher Ratio
9.1:1
Teachers (FTE)
22
Free/Reduced Lunch
76.0%
Type
regular
Setting
Distant Rural
County
Perry County
Data Year
2023–2024

District

PERRY CO SCHOOL DIST
District Enrollment
892
Schools in District
6
Per-Pupil Spending
$15,310
District Rank
#1 of 4

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.

Read our full methodology

Get school insights in your inbox

New rankings, best-schools lists, and parent guides — delivered free. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.

We respect your privacy. Unsubscribe at any time.