Summary:
The Pascagoula-Gautier School District in Mississippi oversees 10 elementary schools serving grades PK-4 or K-4, with a combined enrollment of 2,620 students and an overall district rating of 4 stars, ranking 35th of 134 districts statewide. These schools range dramatically in performance, from Beach Elementary at the 95th percentile in the state to Eastlawn Elementary at the 31st percentile, a 36-point gap in average proficiency between the district's top and bottom schools.
Beach Elementary is the clear standout, ranking 20th in Mississippi with 75.1% average proficiency across four MAAP tests and the district's lowest chronic absenteeism at 7.2%. Lake Elementary follows as another strong performer with 65.2% proficiency and the lowest student-teacher ratio in the district, despite having the highest chronic absenteeism at 28.7%. Jackson Elementary has improved steadily to a 111th-place ranking, while College Park Elementary posted the largest one-year jump in the district, moving from 260th to 155th place with proficiency rising from 42.0% to 51.0%.
Families should be aware of some concerns. Third-grade math proficiency fell sharply districtwide, from 60.2% to 49.9%, with Eastlawn Elementary experiencing a particularly steep drop from 65.6% to 27.8% proficient. Eastlawn and Arlington Elementary rank lowest in the district and require the most targeted support. High poverty is present throughout the district, with an average free/reduced lunch rate of 75.8%, yet Jackson and Central Elementary achieve strong outcomes despite similar poverty levels, showing that economic challenges are not destiny. Chronic absenteeism also paints a mixed picture, with Beach's low rate standing out positively but Lake's 28.7% rate deserving attention.
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