Summary:
The only high school in zip code 39465 is Petal High School, which serves grades 9-12 in Petal, Mississippi, and is part of the highly rated Petal School District. Since there are no other high schools in this area, all district-level high school data is identical to Petal High's own numbers, making this school the clear focal point for parents. Petal High earned a 4-star rating for 2025–2026, and its district ranks 11th out of 134 districts in Mississippi.
Petal High School is a strong academic performer, consistently exceeding state averages in every tested subject. On the most recent MAAP exams, 83.4% of students were proficient in Algebra I, 66.8% in Biology, and 63.6% in English II—all well above state averages. U.S. History was the strongest subject at 84.7% proficiency. The school also boasts a 95.8% graduation rate, 6.6 points higher than the state, and a favorable student-teacher ratio of 12.8. Its state ranking has slipped from 18th to 45th in two years, but this appears driven by competition and methodology shifts rather than declining academics, since many scores improved.
One area to watch is chronic absenteeism, at 19.7%—better than the state's 23.9% but higher than the district average, which equals the school's because it is the only high school in the district. English II proficiency dropped 3.9 points, and Biology fell 5.5 points, making literacy and science potential focus areas. Notably, 54.83% of students qualify for free or reduced lunch, yet the school still achieves above-average outcomes. Overall, Petal High remains one of the stronger high school options in southern Mississippi, with high graduation rates, solid test scores, and a highly ranked district.
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