Summary:
Pearl Public Schools serves the city of Pearl, Mississippi, through 5 schools spanning grades PK–12, with a total enrollment of about 4,258 students. The district overall earns a 3-star rating, but the schools vary widely in performance, with the elementary grades clearly leading the way.
Across the district, Pearl Upper School is the standout, earning 4 stars and ranking in the 79th percentile of Mississippi elementary schools. Its 5th graders post strong results — 80.2% proficient in science and 64.6% in math, both well above state averages. Northside Elementary also excels in the early grades, with 3rd graders hitting 65.3% proficiency in math versus 48.8% statewide. Both schools serve student bodies where roughly 69% of students are eligible for free or reduced-price lunch, yet they outperform the state. Meanwhile, Pearl Junior High School posts an eye-popping 97.8% proficiency in Algebra I — far above the 66% state average — but its overall 6th–8th grade performance is only mid-tier (60th percentile, 3 stars). The biggest concern is Pearl High School, which dropped from 3 stars to 2 stars. Its English II proficiency fell from 60.9% to 43.9% (below the state average), and Algebra I proficiency dropped to 42.9%.
Chronic absenteeism is a clear dividing line between the elementary and secondary schools. Rates at Pearl Lower Elementary (16.6%), Northside (13.2%), and Pearl Upper (13.7%) are all below the state average of 23.9%, while Pearl Junior High (22.6%) and Pearl High (26.3%) exceed it. The high school’s absenteeism spike mirrors its broad test-score decline, suggesting attendance is a key factor. Despite all this, Pearl High still graduates 95.7% of its students, well above the state’s 89.2% — a puzzling gap that merits investigation. For parents, the takeaway is clear: the elementary schools are a strength, the middle school excels in accelerated math, but the high school needs attention.
Thank you for your feedback!