High Schools in Lamar County School District

The Lamar County School District in Mississippi includes four high schools — Oak Grove High School, Sumrall High School, Purvis High School, and Lumberton High School — serving grades 9–12 (Lumberton also includes grades 7–8), with the district earning a 4-star rating and ranking 30th out of 134 Mississippi districts. The schools vary dramatically in size, from Oak Grove's 1,750 students to Lumberton's 268, and that variation is matched by equally dramatic differences in academic performance. While the district generally performs above state averages, the gap between its highest- and lowest-performing schools is substantial.

Oak Grove High School is the district's clear academic leader, ranking 27th in the state with the highest graduation rate (92.7%) and the lowest chronic absenteeism (21.1%). It also leads the district in Algebra I (82.1% proficient) and English II (61.4%). Sumrall High School was the standout in 2024–2025, earning a 5-star rating and ranking 9th in Mississippi, but dropped to 50th in 2025–2026 following significant declines in every subject — a sharp downturn worth monitoring. Purvis High School is the steady middle performer, holding at 76th in the state and improving in English II. Lumberton High School faces the greatest challenges: it ranks 184th, has the lowest graduation rate (77.3%), the highest chronic absenteeism (32.2%), and the highest poverty rate (83.2% free/reduced lunch eligibility).

A few insights stand out for parents. Smaller class sizes do not guarantee stronger outcomes — Lumberton has the lowest student-teacher ratio (8.1) yet the lowest test scores, while Oak Grove has the largest (14.3) and performs best. Poverty and attendance appear to play a much larger role in student success. Lumberton's struggles are compounded by poverty and absenteeism, and its middle school scores show students entering high school already behind district and state averages. Even the top-performing schools exceed the district average for chronic absenteeism, making attendance a district-wide concern. For families, Oak Grove offers the most consistently strong results, Purvis is a dependable middle option, Sumrall has proven it can reach elite levels but needs to reverse its recent slide, and Lumberton requires the most attention and support.