Summary:
In Pascagoula, Mississippi, a coastal city in the southeastern part of the state, the Pascagoula-Gautier School District serves about 3,700 students across 11 schools: seven elementary schools (PK/K–4), two middle schools, one high school, and one alternative school. The district is rated 4 stars and ranks 35th out of 134 districts in Mississippi, placing it in the 74th percentile.
Among the elementary schools, Beach Elementary stands out as the district's academic leader, ranking 20th in the state (95th percentile) and posting the lowest chronic absenteeism at 7.2%. Its MAAP proficiency averages around 75%, far ahead of the district's other schools. Lake Elementary also impresses: despite having the highest chronic absenteeism among regular schools (28.7%), it ranks 51st in the state with strong math and reading scores. In addition, high-poverty schools like Jackson Elementary and Central Elementary outperform many peers, showing that economic disadvantage does not determine success. At the secondary level, Pascagoula High has improved its state percentile from 53rd to 65th and now exceeds state averages in Biology and English II, with a graduation rate of 89.8%.
The biggest challenges lie in middle school math and science: William M Colmer Middle trails the state by 14 points in 8th grade math, and Trent Lott has notable gaps in 5th grade science and 6th grade math. Chronic absenteeism varies widely, from Beach's excellent 7.2% to Lake's 28.7%, and is especially high at Jackson County Exceptional, the alternative school, where it reaches 41.7%. Small school enrollments cause large year-to-year ranking swings at schools like Cherokee Elementary and Eastlawn Elementary. Overall, Pascagoula offers some elite elementary options, a rising high school, but clear opportunities for growth in the middle grades and at lower-performing sites.
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