Schools in Zip Code 39402

Zip code 39402 in Hattiesburg, Mississippi is served by seven public schools spanning pre-kindergarten through 12th grade: five elementary schools, one middle school, and one high school, together enrolling about 6,433 students. Most schools belong to the Lamar County School District, with single campuses in the Hattiesburg and Forrest County School District. Enrollment ranges from 214 students at Rawls Springs Attendance Center to 1,750 at Oak Grove High School, the zip code's only high school.

Families in this area will find a clear performance divide between districts. All five Lamar County schools earn 4-star ratings, led by Oak Grove High School, ranked 27th in the state with a 92.7% graduation rate and strong Algebra I and Biology scores. Oak Grove Elementary (77th percentile) and Bellevue Elementary (79th percentile, on an upward trajectory) are the strongest elementary options. Longleaf Elementary has the best attendance and strong 4th-grade ELA, but slipped to the 71st percentile. Oak Grove Middle School posts a perfect 100% Algebra I proficiency for advanced 8th graders, though its 7th-grade ELA (40.4%) is a weak spot. The non-Lamar schools face greater challenges: Thames Elementary (1 star, 100% free/reduced lunch) has the lowest scores, while Rawls Springs (3 stars) shows strong 5th-grade math and science but volatile results due to its small size.

Across the zip code, chronic absenteeism runs below the state average at every school, from 11.1% at Longleaf to 21.1% at Oak Grove High. However, low absenteeism doesn't guarantee high scores—Thames posts near-lowest absenteeism yet the weakest academics. English/language arts is the area's biggest challenge, with middle and high school ELA scores trailing math and science. Poverty patterns are clear at the extremes, but Rawls Springs proves high-poverty schools can still excel in specific subjects. For parents, the Lamar County schools, especially Bellevue and Oak Grove High, provide the strongest overall academic anchors.