Summary
Lumberton High School is a small, rural public school in Lumberton, Mississippi, serving 268 students in grades 7–12 as part of the Lamar County School District. Like many schools in the area, Lumberton faces significant economic challenges: 83.2% of students qualified for free or reduced-price lunch in 2024-25, a higher rate than nearby Poplarville High School or Purvis High School. After earning a 4-star state rating in 2023-24, the school's ranking has fallen sharply to a 1-star rating in 2025-26.
Several trends are cause for concern. Lumberton's graduation rate has declined every year for the past five years, from 91.9% in 2020-21 to just 77.3% in 2024-25—well below the district rate of 91.2% and the state rate of 89.2%. Nearby schools graduate far more students on time, with Poplarville at 96.1% and Purvis at 89.9%. Chronic absenteeism is also severe, with 32.2% of students missing significant instructional time in 2023-24 compared to 18.6% districtwide. Academically, Lumberton trails district and state averages in every subject, with especially large gaps in 8th-grade math (29% proficient vs. 60.8% district), 8th-grade science, Biology, and English II.
The contrast with neighboring schools is stark. On end-of-course exams, Lumberton scored 20–50 percentage points below Purvis High School, Poplarville High School, and Forrest County Agricultural High School in Algebra I, English II, and Biology. Even Forrest County Ag, which has a similarly high poverty rate, outperforms Lumberton substantially. On a more positive note, Lumberton has a favorable student–teacher ratio of 8.1 and posted strong Algebra I, Biology, and U.S. History scores in 2023-24, showing the school is capable of success. With such a small student body, results can swing sharply from year to year. Parents considering this school should be aware of the attendance crisis and academic struggles—but also of a school that has recently demonstrated it can do better.
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