Poplarville Upper Elementary

Poplarville Upper Elementary serves 432 students in grades 3 through 5 in Poplarville, Mississippi, and is part of the highly ranked Poplarville School District, which ranks 8th out of 134 districts in the state. The school itself has earned a 4-star rating and ranks 65th out of 377 Mississippi elementary schools, placing it in the top quartile statewide.

Academically, Poplarville Upper Elementary outperforms Mississippi state averages in every subject and grade level tested on the most recent MAAP assessments. It also beats nearby Pearl River Central Elementar in every category, despite that school being much larger. For example, 3rd-grade ELA proficiency stands at 64.1% compared to the state's 48.5%, and 5th-grade science is an exceptional 89.8%, far above the state average of 71.5%. The school's trajectory is impressive too, climbing from the 43rd percentile in 2018-2019 to the 83rd percentile today. It also achieves stronger results than Lumberton Elementary School, a nearby school with higher poverty levels, and generally outperforms Baxterville School despite having a larger student-teacher ratio.

Areas to watch include chronic absenteeism, which has improved from 32.1% to 23.5% over two years but remains slightly above the district average of 21.6%. Fifth-grade math is the school's most fragile subject at 57.2% proficiency, though it remains above the state average and has rebounded from the prior year. Even with 64% of students qualifying for free or reduced-price lunch, the school is achieving strong outcomes, suggesting effective instruction and district support. Parents can expect a school that is clearly on an upward trajectory, with particular strengths in science and early elementary math.