Summary:
Zip code 39553 in Gautier, Mississippi, is served by 6 public schools — 1 high school, 2 middle schools, and 3 elementary schools — all part of the Pascagoula-Gautier School District. The district is rated 4 stars, and the schools here educate roughly 2,842 students from grades PK-12. Across the zip code, about 74% of students qualify for free or reduced lunch, yet many schools outperform state averages — a sign that economic challenges do not define academic success.
Among the elementary schools, Gautier Elementary stands out as the most consistent top performer, earning 4 stars in all three reported years and beating state averages in every tested subject while serving the highest poverty rate (81.6%). Singing River posted the single strongest subject score in the area with 66% proficiency in 6th-grade math, while Martin Bluff leads the zip code in attendance with just 12% chronic absenteeism. College Park Elementary is the most improved school, jumping from the 32nd to 59th percentile in one year, though its 3rd-grade math still trails the state. At the secondary level, Gautier High posts a strong 91.2% graduation rate and biology proficiency 8 points above the state, while Gautier Middle shows a bright spot in 7th-grade ELA but struggles with 28.3% chronic absenteeism.
The clearest challenges are math proficiency across multiple grade levels and rising absenteeism in older grades. Elementary ELA is a widespread strength, and science is competitive across the board. Gautier High’s state rank has fluctuated between 2 and 3 stars despite strong graduation and science scores, likely due to attendance issues. Overall, this district punches above its weight given poverty levels, with Gautier Elementary as the leader and Singing River’s math success pointing to possible strategies that could lift 5th-grade math — the weakest subject in the zip code. Improving middle and high school attendance would likely stabilize rankings and boost overall achievement.
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