Best Public Schools in Carriere, MS

The city of Carriere, Mississippi is home to three schools that serve students from elementary through high school: Pearl River Central Elementary, Pearl River Central High School, and Pearl River Central Junior High. These schools are part of the Pearl River County School District.

Among the three schools, Pearl River Central High School stands out as a top performer, consistently ranking in the top third of Mississippi high schools with a 4-star rating. The school maintains a high 4-year graduation rate of 89.4% and outperforms the state and district averages on MAAP end-of-course exams, particularly in Algebra I, Biology, and U.S. History. In contrast, Pearl River Central Elementary has seen some fluctuation in its ranking and rating, but overall performs well compared to the state, with students exceeding state and district averages on MAAP English Language Arts and Mathematics assessments.

While the schools in Carriere demonstrate varying levels of academic performance, they all face the challenge of relatively high chronic absenteeism rates, around 24% for the 2022-2023 school year. Additionally, the schools serve a population with significant economic challenges, as evidenced by the high free/reduced lunch rates, particularly at the elementary and junior high levels. These factors may be important considerations when analyzing the schools' performance and needs, and could present opportunities for the district to collaborate and share best practices to support student success across all grade levels.