Summary:
There is one middle school in zip code 39402 (Hattiesburg, MS): Oak Grove Middle School, serving grades 6–8 with about 1,160 students in the Lamar County School District. This single-school area offers a clear picture of what families can expect: a large, consistently 4-star rated school with notable academic strengths and a few areas worth monitoring.
Oak Grove Middle School is a high performer despite serving a student body where 61% qualify for free or reduced lunch. Its standout result is Algebra I, where 100% of students scored proficient in 2025-2026, far exceeding the district (75.2%) and state (66.0%). Chronic absenteeism is also better than average at 17.9%, compared to 18.6% for the district and 23.9% for the state. In English Language Arts, all grades outperform the state average, with 6th grade at 56.8% proficiency (state 48.0%) and 8th grade at 50.4% (state 40.9%). The student-teacher ratio of 12.9:1 is reasonable and likely supports individual attention.
However, there are some concerns. Seventh grade math proficiency fell sharply from 64.6% to 56.9% in one year, now below both the district (63.0%) and state (57.7%) averages. Seventh grade ELA is also the school’s weakest subject at 40.4%, though it still edges out the state. While the school has maintained a stable 4-star rating, its statewide percentile rank has slipped from the 79th to the 70th percentile over three years. Science proficiency remains above the state but slightly below the district. Overall, Oak Grove Middle School is a solid choice in this area, with exceptional advanced math results and strong attendance, but families should watch 7th grade performance trends closely.
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