Summary:
The Poplarville School District in Pearl River County, Mississippi serves approximately 1,969 students across four public schools: Poplarville High School (grades 9–12), Middle School of Poplarville (grades 6–8), Poplarville Upper Elementary (grades 3–5), and Poplarville Lower Elementary (grades PK–2). The district is rated 5 stars and ranks 8th out of 134 districts in Mississippi, placing it in the 94th percentile statewide.
Poplarville High School is the clear standout, ranked 11th out of 224 high schools in the state. It boasts a 96.1% graduation rate, well above the state average of 89.2%, along with exceptional subject mastery in Algebra I (87.8% proficient) and Biology (88.5%). The Middle School of Poplarville has shown rapid improvement, rising from the 63rd to 82nd percentile in just three years, and has the district's lowest chronic absenteeism rate at 17.0%. Poplarville Upper Elementary has also climbed from the 65th to 83rd percentile, with exceptional 5th-grade science scores of 89.8% proficiency.
One notable finding is a clear poverty gradient, with free/reduced lunch eligibility rising from 49.6% at the high school to 64.1% at the upper elementary. Chronic absenteeism is highest in the youngest grades, with Poplarville Lower Elementary at 25.1%, above the state average of 23.9%, while that school also has the highest student-teacher ratio at 16.8. Science is the district's strongest subject across all grade levels, with proficiency rates 12–20 points above state averages. All schools are consistently improving, suggesting effective leadership and a strengthening district culture. While English proficiency trails STEM subjects, every reported test score exceeds state averages, making Poplarville a strong choice for families in rural Mississippi.
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