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West Hancock Elementary

Public Grades K-5

29^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 377 Mississippi Elementary Schools

Better than 92% of Mississippi elementary schools

Summary

West Hancock Elementary is a K–5 school in Picayune, Mississippi, serving 349 students as part of the Hancock School District. The school has experienced a dramatic rise in recent years, jumping to a state rank of 29 out of 377 elementary schools (92nd percentile) and earning a 5-star rating—up from a rank of 91 the previous year. Academically, West Hancock outperforms state averages across all tested subjects, with particularly remarkable results in 5th grade Science, where 96.7% of students scored proficient on the MAAP exam. The school also posted strong math gains, with 5th grade math proficiency improving from 38.7% to 72.2% over three years.

West Hancock stands out as a high achiever despite facing significant socioeconomic challenges. About 75% of its students are eligible for free or reduced-price lunch—a much higher rate than the 48.5% at East Hancock Elementary School, but comparable to the 69.8% at Hancock North Central School. While those two district peers rank slightly higher statewide (3rd and 13th, respectively), West Hancock still far outpaces the Picayune district schools, which average around the 173rd percentile despite serving similar or higher poverty levels. The school’s low student-teacher ratio of 13.4 is noticeably better than East Hancock’s 20.7, suggesting smaller class sizes that may help support student success.

The most notable concern is chronic absenteeism, which stands at 31.1%—well above the state average of 23.9% and about 13 points higher than West Hancock’s district peers. This creates an interesting paradox: the students who attend regularly are performing exceptionally well, but the school could potentially close the gap with East Hancock if attendance improved. With its strong upward trajectory, outstanding science achievement, and demonstrated success in overcoming poverty barriers, West Hancock represents a school on the rise. Addressing chronic absenteeism would likely be the highest-leverage opportunity for continued improvement toward joining the very top tier of Mississippi elementary schools.

349

Students ?

13.4

Student/teacher ratio ?

$13,554

Per pupil spending ?

75.1%

Free/discounted lunch ?

23350 Highway 43
Picayune, MS 39466

(228) 586-6054

District: Hancock School District

Students who attend West Hancock Elementary usually attend:

Middle:	Hancock Middle School
High:	Hancock High School

Racial breakdown:

White:

87.4%

Hispanic:

4.6%

African American:

3.7%

See top rated Mississippi elementary schools

Compare West Hancock Elementary to nearby elementary schools!

At a glance

▲ Ranking trend: Improving — 53rd percentile in 2016 → 92nd in 2026

Strengths

✓Test scores above the Mississippi average (74% vs 54% meeting standards)

✓Ranks in the top 8% of Mississippi elementary schools

✓Ranking is trending up — up 39 percentile points since 2016

Worth a look

!High chronic absenteeism (31% vs 24% Mississippi)

!Near the bottom of Hancock School District's ranking

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school74%

District avg75%

Mississippi avg54%

29^th of 377

Mississippi public elementary schools ?

Top 8%▲ up 40 pts since 2016

From top 47% (2016) to top 8% (2026)

See the entire ranking list of Mississippi Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

3^rd of 4Elementary Schools in the Hancock School District

9^th of 133Hancock School District among Mississippi districts

Statewide rank percentile over time (100 = the top-ranked school in the state; click a legend item to add a student group)

Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Mississippi percentile	Rating
2026	89.3	29 of 377	92.3%	★★★★★
2025	73.3	91 of 383	76.2%	★★★★☆
2024	79.2	66 of 390	83.1%	★★★★☆
2023	76.3	73 of 377	80.6%	★★★★☆
2022	68.8	114 of 382	70.2%	★★★★☆
2021	66.3	124 of 381	67.5%	★★★☆☆
2019	67.3	121 of 397	69.5%	★★★☆☆
2018	58.3	163 of 404	59.7%	★★★☆☆
2017	55.7	170 of 406	58.1%	★★★☆☆
2016	52.7	186 of 394	52.8%	★★★☆☆
2015	29.4	288 of 402	28.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2014	36.4	267 of 394	32.2%	★★☆☆☆
2013	53.8	191 of 408	53.2%	★★★☆☆
2012	51.7	202 of 414	51.2%	★★★☆☆
2011	47.1	236 of 418	43.5%	★★☆☆☆
2010	72.3	100 of 403	75.2%	★★★★☆

By subject vs Mississippi (2025-2026) ?

Science97%+25 vs state

Mathematics70%+20 vs state

English Language Arts70%+18 vs state

3.0

1 rating · 1 written review

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What people are saying

by a parent
Wednesday, July 16, 2014

I love how this school makes me feel like my children are safe. I had 3 children in school last year and one of their teachers I didn't like so much. My daughter was having a tough enough time with school and her teacher did not give her the much needed help. I understand she has other students to attend to but all she had to do was go to my daughters side do the first one individually with her then let her do the rest on her own. My daughter would hide out in the restroom to avoid her teacher (SHE IS IN FIRST GRADE!) Also, the school does not have a tutor or extra help for children like my daughter. Close Quote

Schools Near West Hancock Elementary

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Ranking:

E Elementary M Middle H High A Alternative P Private

Choose columns to see: Summary School Students/Teachers Ranking Test Scores Finance All

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2026)				Ranking (2025)				MAAP English Language Arts (2026)				MAAP Mathematics (2026)				MAAP Science (2026)	Per Pupil Expenditures (2024)
Name	Type	Grades	Address	City	Zip	County	District	Is Charter	Is Magnet	Is Virtual	Is Title I	Phone	Enrollment	Full-time Teachers	Student/ Teacher Ratio	Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients (2025)	White	Black	Hispanic	Asian	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Average Standard Score (2026)	Statewide Rank (2026)	State Percentile (2026)	SchoolDigger Rating (2026)	Average Standard Score (2025)	Statewide Rank (2025)	State Percentile (2025)	Rank Change from Previous Year	MAAP English Language Arts 3rd Grade	MAAP English Language Arts 4th Grade	MAAP English Language Arts 5th Grade	MAAP English Language Arts 6th Grade	MAAP Mathematics 3rd Grade	MAAP Mathematics 4th Grade	MAAP Mathematics 5th Grade	MAAP Mathematics 6th Grade	MAAP Science 5th Grade	Total
West Hancock Elementary	Public	K-5	23350 Highway 43	Picayune	39466	Pearl River County	Hancock School District	No	No	No	Yes	(228) 586-6054	349	26	13.4	75.1%	305 (87.4%)	13 (3.7%)	16 (4.6%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (0.6%)	0 (0.0%)	13 (3.7%)	89.3	29^th of 377 public elementary schools	92.3%		73.3	91^st of 383 public elementary schools	76.2%	62	69.1	61.2	78.7		69.1	69.4	72.2		96.7	$13,554
Hancock North Central School	Public	K-5	6122 Cuevas Town Road	Kiln	39556	Hancock County	Hancock School District	No	No	No	Yes	(228) 255-7641	404	29	13.9	69.8%	380 (94.1%)	6 (1.5%)	11 (2.7%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	6 (1.5%)	93.3	13^th of 377 public elementary schools	96.6%		83.7	50^th of 383 public elementary schools	86.9%	37	69.6	71.4	75.9		83.9	81.4	73.7		93.1	$12,517
Roseland Park Elementary	Public	K-6	1610 Gilcrease Street	Picayune	39466	Pearl River County	Picayune School District	No	No	No	Yes	(601) 798-6824	370	18	20.3		210 (56.8%)	106 (28.6%)	35 (9.5%)	9 (2.4%)	1 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	9 (2.4%)	55.4	164^th of 377 public elementary schools	56.5%		39.1	239^th of 383 public elementary schools	37.6%	75	44.3	62.5	53.3	53.5	48.1	37.5	46.7	60.5	71.2	$11,030
East Hancock Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	4221 Kiln Delisle Rd.	Kiln	39556	Hancock County	Hancock School District	No	No	No	Yes	(228) 255-8372	633	30	20.7	48.5%	549 (86.7%)	17 (2.7%)	32 (5.1%)	8 (1.3%)	3 (0.5%)	1 (0.2%)	23 (3.6%)	96.7	3^rd of 377 public elementary schools	99.2%		91.8	18^th of 383 public elementary schools	95.3%	15	74.7	76.6	83.9		86.8	91.8	87.5		93.7	$11,019
West Side Elementary	Public	K-6	111 Kirkwood Street	Picayune	39466	Pearl River County	Picayune School District	No	No	No	Yes	(601) 798-3625	444	26	16.9	74.1%	267 (60.1%)	110 (24.8%)	36 (8.1%)	8 (1.8%)	2 (0.5%)	0 (0.0%)	21 (4.7%)	42.7	219^th of 377 public elementary schools	41.9%		40.9	228^th of 383 public elementary schools	40.5%	9	46.5	53.9	52.8	46.5	38.6	31.7	26.4	37.5	79.3	$10,055
South Side Upper Elementary	Public	3-6	1500 Rosa Street	Picayune	39466	Pearl River County	Picayune School District	No	No	No	Yes	(601) 798-1105	310	21	14.4	79.4%	185 (59.7%)	97 (31.3%)	17 (5.5%)	1 (0.3%)	1 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	9 (2.9%)	67.2	116^th of 377 public elementary schools	69.2%		63	146^th of 383 public elementary schools	61.9%	30	53.8	59.4	55.9	53.4	35.9	57.9	72.7	68.5	76.2	$9,768
South Side Lower Elementary	Public	PK, KG-2	400 South Beech Street	Picayune	39466	Pearl River County	Picayune School District	No	No	No	Yes	(601) 799-0683	320	19	17.0	82.2%	184 (57.5%)	101 (31.6%)	23 (7.2%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	12 (3.8%)								(n/a)										$9,726
Nicholson Elementary	Public	K-6	1887 Hwy 11 South	Picayune	39463	Pearl River County	Picayune School District	No	No	No	Yes	(601) 798-6309	324	22	14.6	84.6%	154 (47.5%)	84 (25.9%)	69 (21.3%)	2 (0.6%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	15 (4.6%)	48.1	195^th of 377 public elementary schools	48.3%		33.3	265^th of 383 public elementary schools	30.8%	70	51.3	52.1	52.1	38.8	67.5	54.1	45.8	32.6	60.4	$10,841
Pearl River Central Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	116 Alphabet Ave	Carriere	39426	Pearl River County	Pearl River County School District	No	No	No	Yes	(601) 799-4519	1,414	84	16.8	66.1%	1,191 (84.2%)	43 (3.0%)	107 (7.6%)	3 (0.2%)	5 (0.4%)	0 (0.0%)	65 (4.6%)	70.8	107^th of 377 public elementary schools	71.6%		67.4	125^th of 383 public elementary schools	67.4%	18	59.5	54.0	55.7		62.7	61.2	51.4		85.3	$9,417
Lizana Elementary	Public	K-6	15341 Lizana School Road	Gulfport	39503	Harrison County	Harrison County School District	No	No	No	Yes	(228) 832-1592	393	24	16.2	74.3%	351 (89.3%)	20 (5.1%)	14 (3.6%)	3 (0.8%)	3 (0.8%)	2 (0.5%)	0 (0.0%)	92	18^th of 377 public elementary schools	95.2%		95.1	6^th of 383 public elementary schools	98.4%	12	63.9	74.6	81.1	72.5	68.9	73.0	75.0	82.4	98.1	$11,714

Frequently Asked Questions about West Hancock Elementary

What is the racial makeup of West Hancock Elementary?

Students at West Hancock Elementary are 87% White, 5% Hispanic, 4% African American, 4% Two or more races.

Is West Hancock Elementary a good school?

Yes. West Hancock Elementary ranks in the top 7.7% of Mississippi elementary schools.

What district is West Hancock Elementary in?

Hancock School District

What schools do graduates of West Hancock Elementary attend?

Students who attend West Hancock Elementary usually go on to attend:

Middle : Hancock Middle School
High : Hancock High School

How many students attend West Hancock Elementary?

In the 2024-25 school year, 349 students attended West Hancock Elementary.

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Latest Mississippi data All new data »

2025–26 MAAP test scoresAug 21, 2026

2023–24 school spending dataSep 26, 2025

2023–24 through 2024–25 attendance data & graduation ratesSep 26, 2025

2023–24 graduation ratesSep 23, 2025

SchoolDigger data sources: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education, the U.S. Census Bureau and the Mississippi Department of Education.

IMPORTANT DISCLAIMERS: Not all boundaries are included. We make every effort to ensure that boundaries are up-to-date. But it's important to note that these are approximations and are for general informational purposes only. To verify legal descriptions of boundaries or school locations, contact your local tax assessor's office and/or school district.