Summary:
The Laurel School District serves families through one high school, Laurel High School, which enrolls 732 students in grades 9 through 12 with a student-to-teacher ratio of 17.2. Located at 1100 W 12th Street in Laurel, Mississippi, the school serves an extremely high-poverty population, with 99.86% of students eligible for free or reduced-price lunch.
Because Laurel High School is the district's only high school, school and district results are identical for graduation and most assessments. The graduation rate is 83.2%, compared to the state average of 89.2%. Test proficiency reveals a mixed picture: Algebra I proficiency is just 38.8% versus 66.0% statewide, a gap of 27.2 points that widened from 19.8 points the previous year. English II proficiency is closer to state norms at 40.5% versus 49.3%, and Biology proficiency is 48.6% versus 63.1%. The most concerning metric is chronic absenteeism: 59.8% of students were chronically absent in 2023-2024, more than double the state rate of 23.9%. State rankings have been volatile, moving from the 14th percentile in 2023-2024 to the 34th percentile in 2024-2025, before falling back to the 22nd percentile in 2025-2026.
For parents, the key takeaway is that Laurel High School faces significant challenges tied to poverty and absenteeism yet demonstrates resilience in some areas. English II performance is the school's relative strength, with a gap of fewer than 9 points compared to the state average. The graduation rate, while 6 points below the state, is notable given that nearly all students live in poverty. The most urgent priorities are reducing chronic absenteeism and stabilizing Algebra I instruction, both of which are closely linked to overall student success and school ranking. Parents considering this school should weigh its existing supports alongside the persistent academic and attendance challenges that currently place the school in the bottom quarter of Mississippi high schools.
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