Summary:
Schools in zip code 39581 include five campuses serving 1,308 students across the Pascagoula-Gautier School District, a 4-star rated district ranked 35th out of 134 in Mississippi, with three elementary schools, one middle school, and one alternative school, but no traditional high school. The area serves a predominantly low-income population, with roughly 78% of students qualifying for free/reduced lunch. While the district overall is solidly rated, the individual schools range from a 4-star standout to a 2-star elementary school.
Jackson Elementary is the highest-ranked school in the zip code, earning 4 stars and ranking 111th out of 377 elementary schools (71st percentile), with 3rd grade ELA and math proficiency exceeding state averages by more than 20 percentage points and a steady climb from 204th to 111th over three years. Cherokee Elementary has the strongest single subject-area performance in the area, with 4th grade math at 76.1% proficiency, but its overall rank fell from 77th to 189th after sharp declines in 3rd grade scores. Arlington Elementary, with the highest poverty rate at 85.3%, is the lowest-performing elementary school, ranking 251st with 3rd grade math proficiency of just 28.7%.
William M Colmer Middle, the only middle school, ranks 137th out of 260 (47th percentile) with a 24.2% chronic absenteeism rate, higher than district and state averages, and 8th grade math (37.7%) and science (48.6%) proficiency well below state norms. Jackson County Exceptional serves 44 high-need students in an alternative K–12 setting with a very low student-teacher ratio of 6.2 but a concerning 41.7% chronic absenteeism rate. Year-to-year test scores are volatile across the zip code, and since no traditional high school exists within 39581, families should factor in the limited local options for older students.
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