Best Elementary Schools in Zip Code 39503

ZIP code 39503 in Gulfport, Mississippi, is home to 7 elementary schools serving roughly 3,500 students in grades K-6 (with Harrison Central Elementary serving only K-3), all part of the Harrison County School District, which ranks 15th out of 134 Mississippi districts. This is a high-poverty area: the average free/reduced lunch rate across the seven schools is about 87.5%, and four of the seven schools exceed 98% eligibility. Despite belonging to the same district, these schools show remarkable variation in academic outcomes, ranging from top-5% statewide performers to schools in the bottom third of the state.

Lizana Elementary is the clear top performer, earning 5 stars and ranking 18th of 377 Mississippi elementary schools in 2025-2026, with strong results across all subjects, including 98.1% proficiency in 5th grade science. Lyman Elementary is the other elite school, ranking 33rd statewide while posting the lowest chronic absenteeism rate in the ZIP code at 14.9% and the lowest poverty rate at 65.27%. Three Rivers Elementary deserves special mention: despite having the highest poverty rate in the group at 99.39% free/reduced lunch eligibility, it still reaches the 76th percentile statewide—proof that high poverty does not automatically mean low performance.

At the other end of the spectrum, Bel-Aire Elementary and Crossroads Elementary are the lowest-performing schools, both earning 2-star ratings with math proficiency often dipping below 30% and chronic absenteeism rates of 28.0% and 29.7%, respectively. River Oaks Elementary sits in the middle at the 54th percentile, while Harrison Central Elementary, which serves only K-3, posts 3rd grade scores rivaling the top schools despite not receiving a rank. Math is the biggest academic weakness across the area, while science is a genuine bright spot: every school with science data exceeded the state average of 71.5% in 5th grade science. The data suggests the strongest levers for improvement are reducing chronic absenteeism, strengthening math instruction, and replicating the science and early-grade practices already working at the top schools.