Summary:
The Poplarville School District is served by a single high school, Poplarville High School, which enrolls 540 students in grades 9–12 and holds a 5-star rating in a district ranked 8th out of 134 in Mississippi. This sole high school drives the district's strong reputation, posting a 96.1% graduation rate—nearly 7 points above the state average—and a chronic absenteeism rate of 20.6%, which is below the state’s 23.9%. With a favorable 12.4:1 student-teacher ratio and about half of students qualifying for free or reduced-price lunch, the school clearly punches above its weight academically.
In every reported subject, Poplarville High School substantially outperforms Mississippi state averages. For 2025–2026, Algebra I proficiency is 87.8% (state: 66%), Biology is 88.5% (state: 63.1%), and English II is 59.6% (state: 49.3%). The previous year, U.S. History proficiency reached 91.3% (state: 69.7%). Math and science are clear strengths, with year-over-year gains in Algebra I (+5.5 points) and Biology (+4.3 points). English II remains the relative weak spot, dipping slightly to 59.6%, though it still beats the state by 10 points. The school’s state ranking has been volatile—#2 in 2023–2024, #31 in 2024–2025, and #11 in 2025–2026—yet it has never fallen below the top 14% of Mississippi high schools.
For parents, the takeaway is that Poplarville High School offers a high-quality education with strong graduation outcomes, low absenteeism, and excellent STEM instruction, all despite serving a moderately high-poverty population. Because it is the only high school in the district, every metric directly reflects the district’s success, and any improvement in English/language arts would further solidify an already impressive profile. The consistent superiority over state averages across every subject, paired with a low student-teacher ratio, makes this a standout choice in the region.
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