Best High Schools in Zip Code 39145

Zip code 39145 contains exactly one high school—Pelahatchie High School, a small school serving grades 7 through 12 in Pelahatchie, MS, within the highly rated Rankin County School District.

Pelahatchie High School stands out for its impressive graduation rate of 96.6%, which exceeds both the district (94.6%) and the state (89.2%). The school also shines in Biology End-of-Course testing, outperforming the district and state in both recent years (76.3% proficient in 2025-2026 vs. 63.1% statewide), and shows strong U.S. History scores as well. With a favorable student-teacher ratio of 8.6:1 and chronic absenteeism (18.3%) well below the state average (23.9%), the school provides a supportive environment. However, academic proficiency in several core subjects lags significantly. In 2025-2026, Algebra I proficiency was just 28.6%, compared to 66.0% statewide, and English II proficiency was 38.1% versus 49.3% statewide. Eighth-grade ELA (28.9%) and math (38.5%) also trail district and state averages, while seventh-grade math (54.5%) is closer to the state mark (57.7%).

Year-over-year trends reveal bright spots and concerns. Eighth-grade science proficiency jumped from 44.0% to 59.6%, and eighth-grade math improved by 11 points, but Algebra I fell a dramatic 15.2 points—from 43.8% to 28.6%—signaling a need for targeted math intervention. The school’s state ranking has slipped slightly, from the 41st percentile in 2023-2024 to the 35th percentile in 2025-2026, though it maintains a 2-star rating. Pelahatchie serves a high-need population, with 61.31% of students eligible for free/reduced lunch, which adds context to its performance gaps. Despite lower proficiency in math and English, the school graduates nearly all its students, suggesting strong support for completion. For parents, the key takeaway is that Pelahatchie offers a safe, personalized setting with excellent graduation and science outcomes, but incoming students may need extra academic support—especially in algebra and reading—to thrive.