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Nora Davis Elementary

Public Grades 2-4

366^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 377 Mississippi Elementary Schools

Better than 3% of Mississippi elementary schools

Summary

Nora Davis Elementary is a grades 2–4 elementary school in Laurel, Mississippi, serving 519 students in the Laurel School District, where every student qualifies for free or reduced lunch. The school sits between Oak Park Elementary (PK–1) and the upper grades, making it a focused intermediate primary school with a relatively small student-teacher ratio of 14.6:1.

Nora Davis has ranked in the bottom 5% of Mississippi elementary schools for three consecutive years. Its 2025–2026 state ranking was 366th out of 377 schools (3rd percentile, 0 stars). Only about 1 in 5 Nora Davis students scored proficient on state tests — for example, 18.3% in 3rd grade ELA and 21.5% in 3rd grade math, compared to state averages near 49%. Chronic absenteeism affects 24.4% of students, roughly one in four, which likely contributes to the academic struggles. Test scores have shown no clear upward trend over the past three years, with some subjects falling again in the most recent year.

The most striking comparison is with Laurel Magnet School Of The Arts, located less than a mile away in the same district. Both schools serve 100% economically disadvantaged students, but Laurel Magnet ranks in the 93rd percentile with 80% 3rd-grade ELA proficiency, while Nora Davis sits in the 3rd percentile with 18.3%. Other nearby high-poverty schools like William J. Berry Elementary School also outperform Nora Davis by large margins. This shows poverty alone doesn't determine outcomes. Nora Davis needs a comprehensive strategy to accelerate learning, especially since many students arrive already behind after their PK–1 years at Oak Park.

519

Students ?

14.6

Student/teacher ratio ?

$10,657

Per pupil spending ?

100%

Free/discounted lunch ?

1305 Martin Luther King Ave
Laurel, MS 39440

(601) 438-3140

District: Laurel School District

Racial breakdown:

African American:

81.5%

Hispanic:

15.4%

Two or more races:

1.5%

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At a glance

▬ Ranking trend: Holding steady — 4th percentile in 2024 → 3rd in 2026

Worth a look

!Test scores below the Mississippi average (22% vs 50% meeting standards)

!In the lower quartile statewide (3rd percentile)

!High chronic absenteeism (47% vs 28% Mississippi)

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school22%

District avg32%

Mississippi avg50%

366^th of 377

Mississippi public elementary schools ?

Bottom 3%▼ down 1 pts since 2024

See the entire ranking list of Mississippi Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

2^nd of 2Elementary Schools in the Laurel School District

93^rd of 133Laurel 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	8.5	366 of 377	2.9%	☆☆☆☆☆
2025	9.1	361 of 380	5.0%	☆☆☆☆☆
2024	9.0	364 of 380	4.2%	☆☆☆☆☆

By subject vs Mississippi (2025-2026) ?

Mathematics23%-28 vs state

English Language Arts21%-30 vs state

★

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Schools Near Nora Davis 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
Nora Davis Elementary	Public	2-4	1305 Martin Luther King Ave	Laurel	39440	Jones County	Laurel School District	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(601) 438-3140	519	36	14.6	100.0%	5 (1.0%)	423 (81.5%)	80 (15.4%)	2 (0.4%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	8 (1.5%)	8.5	366^th of 377 public elementary schools	2.9%		9.1	361^st of 380 public elementary schools	5.0%	5	18.3	23.8			21.5	24.3				$10,657
Laurel Magnet School Of The Arts	Public, Magnet	PK, KG-6	1125 North 5th Avenue	Laurel	39440	Jones County	Laurel School District	No	Yes	No	Yes	(601) 428-7446	323	20	15.8	100.0%	12 (3.7%)	283 (87.6%)	13 (4.0%)	1 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	14 (4.3%)	89.5	28^th of 377 public elementary schools	92.6%		92	17^th of 380 public elementary schools	95.5%	11	80.0	83.8	88.4	80.5	60.0	59.4	81.4	100.0	76.8	$10,887
Oak Park Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-1	1205 Oak Park Avenue	Laurel	39440	Jones County	Laurel School District	No	No	No	Yes	(601) 428-5046	405	21	19.2	100.0%	5 (1.2%)	321 (79.3%)	63 (15.6%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	16 (4.0%)								(n/a)										$12,259
Glade Elementary	Public	PK, KG-6	990 Hwy 15 South	Laurel	39443	Jones County	Jones County School District	No	No	No	Yes	(601) 428-4265	423	35	12.0	78.7%	311 (73.5%)	71 (16.8%)	21 (5.0%)	1 (0.2%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	18 (4.3%)	63.4	133^rd of 377 public elementary schools	64.7%		64.6	136^th of 380 public elementary schools	64.2%	3	45.2	50.8	74.5	33.9	85.7	55.5	71.8	39.6	86.9	$10,767
East Jones Elementary	Public	PK, KG-6	108 Northeast Drive	Laurel	39443	Jones County	Jones County School District	No	No	No	Yes	(601) 425-9799	794	61	13.0	74.4%	536 (67.5%)	135 (17.0%)	37 (4.7%)	5 (0.6%)	32 (4.0%)	0 (0.0%)	49 (6.2%)	56.6	160^th of 377 public elementary schools	57.6%		53.2	180^th of 380 public elementary schools	52.6%	20	74.8	56.9	46.3	57.5	74.8	51.4	36.1	47.2	55.6	$10,076
North Jones Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-6	650 Trace Road	Laurel	39443	Jones County	Jones County School District	No	No	No	Yes	(601) 426-6632	854	60	14.2	82.4%	326 (38.2%)	302 (35.4%)	171 (20.0%)	7 (0.8%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	48 (5.6%)	27.7	292^nd of 377 public elementary schools	22.5%		40.2	231^st of 380 public elementary schools	39.2%	61	31.5	46.5	37.7	38.4	24.4	45.4	26.8	47.1	58.4	$9,762
West Jones Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-6	5652 Highway 84 West	Laurel	39443	Jones County	Jones County School District	No	No	No	Yes	(601) 439-4823	1,114	78	14.3	69.8%	589 (52.9%)	186 (16.7%)	279 (25.0%)	4 (0.4%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	56 (5.0%)	53.2	171^st of 377 public elementary schools	54.6%		52.3	183^rd of 380 public elementary schools	51.8%	12	51.4	44.1	53.7	50.0	59.2	32.2	53.7	44.5	76.2	$9,258
South Jones Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-6	27 Warrior Road	Ellisville	39437	Jones County	Jones County School District	No	No	No	Yes	(601) 477-3577	1,129	77	14.7	62.4%	800 (70.9%)	192 (17.0%)	94 (8.3%)	4 (0.4%)	2 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	37 (3.3%)	67.3	115^th of 377 public elementary schools	69.5%		68.4	120^th of 380 public elementary schools	68.4%	5	49.3	52.6	58.5	56.9	53.5	60.5	57.8	69.3	73.5	$9,785
William J. Berry Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-6	4035 County Road 8	Heidelberg	39439	Jasper County	East Jasper School District	No	No	No	Yes	(601) 787-2601	389	24	16.3	100.0%	4 (1.0%)	56 (14.4%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	329 (84.6%)	41.3	225^th of 377 public elementary schools	40.3%		39.5	234^th of 380 public elementary schools	38.4%	9	53.6	45.1	46.1	29.6	46.5	43.1	53.8	42.6	59.7	$15,845
Moselle Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-6	168 Rayner Road	Moselle	39459	Jones County	Jones County School District	No	No	No	Yes	(601) 582-7586	554	44	12.4	71.5%	423 (76.4%)	36 (6.5%)	64 (11.6%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	30 (5.4%)	81	59^th of 377 public elementary schools	84.4%		67.2	126^th of 380 public elementary schools	66.8%	67	58.1	69.8	69.9	54.6	63.5	64.4	60.3	70.1	87.3	$10,771

Frequently Asked Questions about Nora Davis Elementary

What is the racial makeup of Nora Davis Elementary?

Students at Nora Davis Elementary are 82% African American, 15% Hispanic, 2% Two or more races.

What district is Nora Davis Elementary in?

Laurel School District

Is Nora Davis Elementary a good school?

Nora Davis Elementary ranks in the bottom 2.9% of Mississippi elementary schools.

How many students attend Nora Davis Elementary?

In the 2024-25 school year, 519 students attended Nora Davis Elementary.

Rate Nora Davis Elementary!

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Schools in Laurel, MS

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Latest Mississippi data All new data »

2024–25 attendance dataNewOct 6, 2026

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

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.