Summary:
The three elementary schools in Laurel School District—Nora Davis Elementary, Oak Park Elementary School, and Laurel Magnet School of the Arts—serve grades Pre-K through 6 and all have 100% of students qualifying for free/reduced lunch, reflecting a high-poverty area within a district ranked 92nd out of 134 in Mississippi.
Laurel Magnet School of the Arts is the clear standout, ranking 28th out of 377 schools (5 stars) with proficiency far above district and state averages in every grade and subject. Its 6th grade math proficiency is a perfect 100%, and ELA proficiency exceeds 80% in every tested grade. This is especially remarkable given that 100% of its students are economically disadvantaged. Meanwhile, Nora Davis Elementary ranks 366th out of 377 (0 stars), with proficiency roughly 25–30 points below state averages in every subject. Nora Davis did show some ELA improvement year-over-year, but 4th grade math dropped sharply from 36.2% to 24.3%, a serious concern given its large enrollment of 519 students.
Oak Park Elementary School serves only Pre-K through 1st grade, so it has no test scores or recent ranking, but its chronic absenteeism rate of 29.5% is a warning sign for such young students. Attendance is a key differentiator across the district: Laurel Magnet's chronic absenteeism is just 8.0%, versus 24.4% at Nora Davis and 29.5% at Oak Park, compared to a 23.9% state average. The district's overall 2-star rating masks a top-30 school, and replicating Laurel Magnet's success—especially its attendance culture—represents the district's biggest opportunity to improve outcomes at Nora Davis and Oak Park.
Thank you for your feedback!