For the 2026 school year, there are 27 public schools serving 17,401 students in Forrest County, MS (there are 7 private schools, serving 2,601 private students). 86% of all K-12 students in Forrest County, MS are educated in public schools (compared to the MS state average of 90%).
The top-ranked public schools in Forrest County, MS are Petal High School, Oak Grove High School and Petal Elementary 3-4. 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 equal to the Mississippi public school average of 59% (majority Black).
Best Public Schools in Forrest County (2026)
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) 545-1229
Petal, MS 39465
(601) 545-1229
Gr: 9-13 | 1,321 students Student-teacher ratio: 13:1 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: 9-13 | 1,744 students Student-teacher ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 58%
Rank: #33.
Petal Elementary 3-4
(Math: 72% | Reading: 63%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 10%10
1179 Hwy 42 E
Petal, MS 39465
(601) 584-9400
Petal, MS 39465
(601) 584-9400
Gr: 3-4 | 636 students Student-teacher ratio: 13:1 Minority enrollment: 31%
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 | 632 students Student-teacher ratio: 12:1 Minority enrollment: 32%
Rank: #55.
Longleaf Elementary School
(Math: 67% | Reading: 61%)
Rank:
Rank:
9/
Top 20%10
5279 W. 4th Street
Hattiesburg, MS 39402
(601) 261-6892
Hattiesburg, MS 39402
(601) 261-6892
Gr: PK-5 | 787 students Student-teacher ratio: 14:1 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 | 645 students Student-teacher ratio: 13:1 Minority enrollment: 28%
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 | 487 students Student-teacher ratio: 12:1 Minority enrollment: 46%
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 | 1,145 students Student-teacher ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 59%
Rank: #99.
North Forrest Elementary School
(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: PK-6 | 209 students Student-teacher ratio: 11:1 Minority enrollment: 78%
Rank: #1010.
Oak Grove Middle School
(Math: 64% | Reading: 49%)
Rank:
Rank:
8/
Top 30%10
2543 Old Hwy.24
Hattiesburg, MS 39402
(601) 261-4132
Hattiesburg, MS 39402
(601) 261-4132
Gr: 6-8 | 1,160 students Student-teacher ratio: 13:1 Minority enrollment: 66%
Rank: #1111.
Forrest County Agricultural High 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 | 562 students Student-teacher ratio: 11:1 Minority enrollment: 45%
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 | 422 students Student-teacher ratio: 16:1 Minority enrollment: 90%
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 | 367 students Student-teacher ratio: 17:1 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 | 425 students Student-teacher ratio: 16:1
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 | 604 students Student-teacher ratio: 17:1 Minority enrollment: 20%
Rank: #1616.
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 | 349 students Student-teacher ratio: 10:1 Minority enrollment: 83%
Rank: #1717.
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 | 214 students Student-teacher ratio: 12:1 Minority enrollment: 78%
Rank: #1818.
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: 9-13 | 1,009 students Student-teacher ratio: 12:1 Minority enrollment: 99%
Rank: #1919.
Runnelstown 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 | 173 students Student-teacher ratio: 10:1 Minority enrollment: 21%
Rank: #2020.
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 | 283 students Student-teacher ratio: 12:1 Minority enrollment: 97%
Rank: #2121.
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 | 619 students Student-teacher ratio: 15:1 Minority enrollment: 96%
Rank: #2222.
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 | 525 students Student-teacher ratio: 11:1 Minority enrollment: 97%
Rank: #2323.
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 | 263 students Student-teacher ratio: 13:1 Minority enrollment: 96%
Rank: #2424.
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 | 261 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 | 758 students Student-teacher ratio: 13:1 Minority enrollment: 62%
Rank: n/an/a
60 Herrington Road
Petal, MS 39465
(601) 554-7244
Petal, MS 39465
(601) 554-7244
Gr: PK-2 | 1,016 students Student-teacher ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 33%
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 3-4.
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?
86% of all K-12 students in Forrest County are educated in public schools (compared to the MS state average of 90%).
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 equal to the Mississippi public schools average of 59% (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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