Best Elementary Schools in Zip Code 39470

There are two elementary schools in zip code 39470, serving the Poplarville, Mississippi area: Poplarville Lower Elementary (grades PK–2) and Poplarville Upper Elementary (grades 3–5), both part of the highly rated Poplarville School District, which ranks 8th out of 134 districts in Mississippi with a 5-star rating.

Poplarville Upper Elementary is the clear academic standout, as it is the only campus with state test data. It outperforms the state average in nearly every subject and grade, with particularly impressive 5th grade science proficiency at 89.8% compared to the state’s 71.5%. The school’s state ranking has climbed from the 65th percentile in 2023-2024 to the 83rd percentile in 2025-2026. Meanwhile, Poplarville Lower Elementary serves as the larger early-education feeder school with 521 students, providing the PK–2 foundation. Although it has no test scores, its strong 3rd grade results at Upper Elementary suggest the early grades are effective. In comparison, Upper Elementary has a slightly higher free/reduced lunch rate (64.1% vs. 58.7%) but a slightly lower chronic absenteeism rate (23.5% vs. 25.1%).

A few important takeaways stand out. First, both schools exceed the state’s chronic absenteeism average of 23.9%, which is a concern even for the high-achieving upper campus. Second, academic results show notable year-to-year swings, such as 4th grade ELA dropping 16 points and 5th grade math improving 9 points, likely reflecting different student cohorts rather than permanent trends. Third, the district’s grade-span split creates a natural transition at 3rd grade, and the strong performance at that level indicates a solid early foundation. Overall, families in this area benefit from a top-tier district, with Upper Elementary leading academically while Lower Elementary provides essential early learning support, though attendance remains an area worth watching.