For the 2025 school year, there are 28 public schools serving 17,401 students in Forrest County, MS (there are , serving 2,452 private students). 88% of all K-12 students in Forrest County, MS are educated in public schools (compared to the MS state average of 89%).
The top ranked public schools in Forrest County, MS are Petal High School, Oak Grove High School and Petal Elementary School. Overall testing rank is based on a school's combined math and reading proficiency test score ranking.
Forrest County, MS public schools have an average math proficiency score of 62% (versus the Mississippi public school average of 53%), and reading proficiency score of 51% (versus the 42% statewide average). Schools in Forrest County have an average ranking of 9/10, which is in the top 20% of Mississippi public schools.
Minority enrollment is 59% of the student body (majority Black), which is more than the Mississippi public school average of 58% (majority Black).
Best Public Schools in Forrest County (2025)
School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Quick Facts
Rank: #11.
Petal High School
(Math: 91% | Reading: 58%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 5%10
1145 Highway 42 E
Petal, MS 39465
(601) 583-3538
Petal, MS 39465
(601) 583-3538
Gr: 9-12 | 1,335 student Student-teacher ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 32%
Rank: #22.
Oak Grove High School
(Math: 79% | Reading: 59%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 10%10
5198 Old Highway11
Hattiesburg, MS 39402
(601) 264-7232
Hattiesburg, MS 39402
(601) 264-7232
Gr: 9-12 | 1,772 student Student-teacher ratio: 15:1 Minority enrollment: 55%
Rank: #33.
Petal Elementary School
(Math: 72% | Reading: 63%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 10%10
1179 Hwy 42 E
Petal, MS 39465
(601) 582-7454
Petal, MS 39465
(601) 582-7454
Gr: 3-4 | 631 students Student-teacher ratio: 13:1 Minority enrollment: 32%
Rank: #44.
Petal Upper Elementary School
(Math: 68% | Reading: 62%)
Rank:
Rank:
9/
Top 20%10
400 Hillcrest Loop
Petal, MS 39465
(601) 584-7660
Petal, MS 39465
(601) 584-7660
Gr: 5-6 | 665 students Student-teacher ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 28%
Rank: #55.
Longleaf Elementary School
(Math: 67% | Reading: 61%)
Rank:
Rank:
9/
Top 20%10
5279 W. 4th Street
Hattiesburg, MS 39402
(601) 264-3858
Hattiesburg, MS 39402
(601) 264-3858
Gr: PK-5 | 751 students Student-teacher ratio: 12:1 Minority enrollment: 63%
Rank: #66.
Petal Middle School
(Math: 73% | Reading: 55%)
Rank:
Rank:
9/
Top 20%10
203 East Central Avenue
Petal, MS 39465
(601) 584-6301
Petal, MS 39465
(601) 584-6301
Gr: 7-8 | 680 students Student-teacher ratio: 13:1 Minority enrollment: 30%
Rank: #77.
Dixie Attendance Center
(Math: 61% | Reading: 58%)
Rank:
Rank:
9/
Top 20%10
790 Elks Lake Road
Hattiesburg, MS 39401
(601) 582-4890
Hattiesburg, MS 39401
(601) 582-4890
Gr: PK-8 | 507 students Student-teacher ratio: 12:1 Minority enrollment: 44%
Rank: #88.
Bellevue Elementary School
(Math: 55% | Reading: 62%)
Rank:
Rank:
8/
Top 30%10
1760 Old Highway 24
Hattiesburg, MS 39402
(601) 264-6724
Hattiesburg, MS 39402
(601) 264-6724
Gr: PK-5 | 1,179 student Student-teacher ratio: 12:1 Minority enrollment: 60%
Rank: #99.
North Forrest Attendance Center
(Math: 60-64% | Reading: 50-54%)
Rank:
Rank:
8/
Top 30%10
702 Eatonville Road
Hattiesburg, MS 39401
(601) 584-6466
Hattiesburg, MS 39401
(601) 584-6466
Gr: K-6 | 214 students Student-teacher ratio: 10:1 Minority enrollment: 79%
Rank: #1010.
Oak Grove Middle School
(Math: 64% | Reading: 49%)
Rank:
Rank:
8/
Top 30%10
2543 Old Hwy.24
Hattiesburg, MS 39402
(601) 264-4634
Hattiesburg, MS 39402
(601) 264-4634
Gr: 6-8 | 1,286 student Student-teacher ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 62%
Rank: #1111.
Forrest County Agricultural Hi School
(Math: 70-74% | Reading: 40-44%)
Rank:
Rank:
8/
Top 30%10
215 Old Hwy 49 East
Brooklyn, MS 39425
(601) 582-4741
Brooklyn, MS 39425
(601) 582-4741
Gr: 9-12 | 586 students Student-teacher ratio: 17:1 Minority enrollment: 39%
Rank: #1212.
Woodley Elementary School
(Math: 55-59% | Reading: 50-54%)
Rank:
Rank:
8/
Top 30%10
2006 O Ferrell St
Hattiesburg, MS 39401
(601) 583-8112
Hattiesburg, MS 39401
(601) 583-8112
Gr: PK-5 | 461 students Student-teacher ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 88%
Rank: #1313.
Grace Christian Elementary School
(Math: 50-54% | Reading: 55-59%)
Rank:
Rank:
8/
Top 30%10
2207 W 7th Street
Hattiesburg, MS 39401
(601) 583-0662
Hattiesburg, MS 39401
(601) 583-0662
Gr: PK-5 | 345 students Student-teacher ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 98%
Rank: #1414.
Rowan Elementary School
(Math: 60-64% | Reading: 45-49%)
Rank:
Rank:
8/
Top 30%10
500 Martin Luther King Drive
Hattiesburg, MS 39401
(601) 583-0960
Hattiesburg, MS 39401
(601) 583-0960
Gr: PK-5 | 388 students Student-teacher ratio: 13:1
Rank: #1515.
South Forrest Attendance Center
(Math: 59% | Reading: 49%)
Rank:
Rank:
7/
Top 50%10
8 Burborne Street
Brooklyn, MS 39425
(601) 545-7714
Brooklyn, MS 39425
(601) 545-7714
Gr: PK-8 | 565 students Student-teacher ratio: 13:1 Minority enrollment: 19%
Rank: #1616.
Oak Grove Upper Elementary School
(Math: 42% | Reading: 56% )
Rank:
Rank:
7/
Top 50%10
1760 Old Hwy. 24
Hattiesburg, MS 39402
(601) 264-6724
Hattiesburg, MS 39402
(601) 264-6724
Gr: 4-5 | 628 students Student-teacher ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 59%
Rank: #1717.
North Forrest High School
(Math: 60-64% | Reading: 40-44%)
Rank:
Rank:
7/
Top 50%10
693 Eatonville Road
Hattiesburg, MS 39401
(601) 545-9304
Hattiesburg, MS 39401
(601) 545-9304
Gr: 7-12 | 347 students Student-teacher ratio: 9:1 Minority enrollment: 85%
Rank: #1818.
Rawls Springs Attendance Center
(Math: 45-49% | Reading: 50-54%)
Rank:
Rank:
7/
Top 50%10
10 Archie Smith Road
Hattiesburg, MS 39402
(601) 268-2217
Hattiesburg, MS 39402
(601) 268-2217
Gr: PK-6 | 215 students Student-teacher ratio: 9:1 Minority enrollment: 81%
Rank: #1919.
Hattiesburg High School
(Math: 68% | Reading: 36%)
Rank:
Rank:
6/
Top 50%10
301 Hutchinson Ave
Hattiesburg, MS 39401
(601) 544-0811
Hattiesburg, MS 39401
(601) 544-0811
Gr: 9-12 | 988 students Student-teacher ratio: 13:1 Minority enrollment: 99%
Rank: #2020.
Runnelstown Elementary School
(Math: 45-49% | Reading: 45-49%)
Rank:
Rank:
6/
Top 50%10
9214 Highway 42
Petal, MS 39465
(601) 544-2811
Petal, MS 39465
(601) 544-2811
Gr: K-5 | 200 students Student-teacher ratio: 9:1 Minority enrollment: 22%
Rank: #2121.
Hawkins Elementary School
(Math: 50-54% | Reading: 40-44%)
Rank:
Rank:
6/
Top 50%10
901 Ida Ave.
Hattiesburg, MS 39401
(601) 583-4311
Hattiesburg, MS 39401
(601) 583-4311
Gr: PK-5 | 289 students Student-teacher ratio: 11:1 Minority enrollment: 97%
Rank: #2222.
Thames Elementary School
(Math: 40% | Reading: 43%)
Rank:
Rank:
5/
Bottom 50%10
2900 Jamestown Road
Hattiesburg, MS 39402
(601) 582-6655
Hattiesburg, MS 39402
(601) 582-6655
Gr: PK-5 | 537 students Student-teacher ratio: 12:1 Minority enrollment: 96%
Rank: #2323.
N R Burger Middle School
(Math: 45% | Reading: 28%)
Rank:
Rank:
4/
Bottom 50%10
174 Wsf Tatum Drive
Hattiesburg, MS 39401
(601) 582-0536
Hattiesburg, MS 39401
(601) 582-0536
Gr: 7-8 | 533 students Student-teacher ratio: 10:1 Minority enrollment: 98%
Rank: #2424.
Hattiesburg Steam Academy
(Math: 41% | Reading: 27%)
Rank:
Rank:
3/
Bottom 50%10
176 Wsf Tatum Dr.
Hattiesburg, MS 39401
(601) 582-5291
Hattiesburg, MS 39401
(601) 582-5291
Gr: 6 | 205 students Student-teacher ratio: 10:1 Minority enrollment: 98%
Rank: #2525.
Earl Travillion Attendance Center
(Math: 25-29% | Reading: 20-24%)
Rank:
Rank:
2/
Bottom 50%10
316 Travillion Drive
Hattiesburg, MS 39401
(601) 584-9303
Hattiesburg, MS 39401
(601) 584-9303
Gr: PK-8 | 258 students Student-teacher ratio: 10:1 Minority enrollment: 96%
Rank: n/an/a
Lillie Burney Learning Center
Alternative School
901 Ida Ave
Hattiesburg, MS 39401
(601) 584-6311
Hattiesburg, MS 39401
(601) 584-6311
Gr: 4-12
Rank: n/an/a
70 Leaf Lane
Hattiesburg, MS 39402
(601) 264-9764
Hattiesburg, MS 39402
(601) 264-9764
Gr: PK-5 | 747 students Student-teacher ratio: 11:1 Minority enrollment: 59%
Rank: n/an/a
60 Herrington Road
Petal, MS 39465
(601) 554-7244
Petal, MS 39465
(601) 554-7244
Gr: PK-2 | 1,089 student Student-teacher ratio: 12:1 Minority enrollment: 32%
Forrest County Public Schools (Closed)
School
Location
Quick Facts
301 Hutchinson Ave
Hattiesburg, MS 39401
(601) 544-0811
Hattiesburg, MS 39401
(601) 544-0811
Gr: 9 | 342 students Student-teacher ratio: 23:1 Minority enrollment: 97%
901 Ida Avenue
Hattiesburg, MS 39401
(601) 582-5291
Hattiesburg, MS 39401
(601) 582-5291
Gr: PK-6 | 391 students Student-teacher ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 99%
526 Forrest Street
Hattiesburg, MS 39401
(601) 583-4311
Hattiesburg, MS 39401
(601) 583-4311
Gr: K-6 | 373 students Minority enrollment: 99%
5489 Highway 42
Hattiesburg, MS 39401
(601) 583-0960
Hattiesburg, MS 39401
(601) 583-0960
Gr: K-6 | 337 students Minority enrollment: 98%
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the top ranked public schools in Forrest County, MS?
The top ranked public schools in Forrest County, MS include Petal High School, Oak Grove High School and Petal Elementary School.
How many public schools are located in Forrest County?
28 public schools are located in Forrest County.
What percentage of students in Forrest County go to public school?
88% of all K-12 students in Forrest County are educated in public schools (compared to the MS state average of 89%).
What is the racial composition of students in Forrest County?
Forrest County public schools minority enrollment is 59% of the student body (majority Black), which is more than the Mississippi public schools average of 58% (majority Black).
Which public schools in Forrest County are often viewed compared to one another?
Popular comparisons of public schools in Forrest County include: Petal High School vs. Oak Grove High School, Oak Grove Elementary School vs. Longleaf Elementary School, Hawkins Elementary School vs. Grace Christian Elementary School
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