Best Elementary Schools in Zip Code 39567

Zip code 39567 in Pascagoula, Mississippi is home to four elementary schools serving grades PK–4 or K–4 with a combined enrollment of 778 students, all within the Pascagoula-Gautier School District, a 4-star district ranked 35th of 134 districts in the state. The schools range dramatically in size and performance, from the tiny but elite Beach Elementary (100 students) and Lake Elementary (96 students) to the much larger Central Elementary (245 students) and Eastlawn Elementary (337 students).

Beach Elementary is the standout school in the area and one of the top elementary schools in Mississippi, ranking #1 in the state in 2023–2024, #4 in 2024–2025, and #20 in 2025–2026 with 5 stars every year. Its 4th grade math proficiency of 86.9% is roughly 32 points above the district and 35 points above the state. Lake Elementary is the most improved school, rising from 116th to 51st in state rankings and boosting average proficiency from 59.8% to 65.2% while the district and state both declined. Central Elementary deserves credit for performing above the district in 3 of 4 test categories despite having the highest economic disadvantage rate (79.6%). Eastlawn Elementary is the biggest concern: its state ranking fell from 163rd to 261st, and average proficiency collapsed from 53.5% to 38.9% in one year, with 3rd grade math at just 27.8%.

Chronic absenteeism varies widely across these schools. Beach Elementary has an exceptionally low rate of 7.2%, while Lake Elementary struggles at 28.7% — yet Lake still improved academically, suggesting strong instruction can offset attendance challenges. The two smallest schools are the top performers, while the largest school has the weakest results. Overall, district test scores dipped from 54.6% to 51.5% in 2025–2026, mirroring a statewide decline, but Lake's improvement shows growth is possible even in a difficult testing year. For parents, Beach stands out as the clear top choice, Lake is a promising school on the rise, Central is solid given its challenges, and Eastlawn warrants close attention given its recent downward trend.