Summary:
Forest, Mississippi is served by a single high school, Forest High School, which enrolls 438 students in grades 9 through 12 and is part of the Forest Municipal School District. Because only one high school exists in the city, the district's performance mirrors the school's, placing accountability squarely on the school's leadership and staff.
The school currently holds a 1-star rating on SchoolDigger, with its state ranking improving from the 15th percentile in 2024–2025 to the 25th percentile in 2025–2026, though it still ranks 168th out of 224 schools. The graduation rate of 78.3% is nearly 11 points below the state average of 89.2%, and chronic absenteeism of 39.8% is dramatically higher than the state rate of 23.9%. In tested subjects, the school trails the state across the board: Algebra I proficiency is 39.8% versus 66.0% statewide, English II is 37.8% versus 49.3%, and Biology is 55.1% versus 63.1%. A notable exception is U.S. History, where the school's 69.5% proficiency rate essentially matches the state's 69.7%.
There are encouraging signs of progress. Between 2024–2025 and 2025–2026, Biology proficiency jumped from 35.6% to 55.1%, and English II rose from 25.6% to 37.8%, though Algebra I dipped from 47.7% to 39.8%. With 86.76% of students eligible for free or reduced-price lunch, the school serves a predominantly economically disadvantaged population, and its performance gaps should be viewed with that context in mind. The most urgent priority for Forest High School is reducing chronic absenteeism, which at nearly 40% is both a symptom and a driver of the school's broader academic struggles. The trajectory is cautiously positive, but sustained improvement will be needed to raise the school above a 1-star rating.
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