For the 2026 school year, there are 5 public elementary schools serving 1,500 students in Laurel School District. This district's average elementary testing ranking is 4/10, which is in the bottom 50% of public elementary schools in Mississippi.
Public Elementary Schools in Laurel School District have an average math proficiency score of 39% (versus the Mississippi public elementary school average of 51%), and reading proficiency score of 32% (versus the 43% statewide average).
Minority enrollment is 98% of the student body (majority Black), which is more than the Mississippi public elementary school average of 58% (majority Black).
Overview
This School District
This State (MS)
# Schools
8 Schools
682 Schools
# Students
2,620 Students
286,688 Students
# Teachers
161 Teachers
19,842 Teachers
Student-Teacher Ratio
16:1
16:1
Student By Grade
District Rank
Laurel School District, which is ranked within the bottom 50% of all 147 school districts in Mississippi (based off of combined math and reading proficiency testing data) for the 2022-2023 school year.
The school district's graduation rate of 82% has increased from 75-79% over five school years.
Overall District Rank
#119 out of 148 school districts
(Bottom 50%)
(Bottom 50%)
Math Test Scores (% Proficient)
24%
52%
Reading/Language Arts Test Scores (% Proficient)
27%
42%
Science Test Scores (% Proficient)
34%
55%
Graduation Rate
82%
89%
Students by Ethnicity:
Diversity Score
0.33
0.63
% American Indian
n/a
1%
% Asian
n/a
1%
% Hispanic
14%
7%
% Black
81%
43%
% White
2%
42%
% Hawaiian
n/a
n/a
% Two or more races
3%
6%
All Ethnic Groups
District Revenue and Spending
The revenue/student of $15,294 is higher than the state median of $12,408. The school district revenue/student has grown by 19% over four school years.
The school district's spending/student of $11,896 is less than the state median of $12,276. The school district spending/student has grown by 9% over four school years.
Total Revenue
$40 MM
$5,371 MM
Spending
$31 MM
$5,314 MM
Revenue / Student
$15,294
$12,408
Spending / Student
$11,896
$12,276
Best Laurel School District Public Elementary Schools (2026)
School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Quick Facts
Rank: #11.
Laurel Magnet School Of The Arts
Magnet School
(Math: ≥95% | Reading: 80-84%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 1%10
1125 North 5th Avenue
Laurel, MS 39440
(601) 428-7446
Laurel, MS 39440
(601) 428-7446
Gr: PK-6 | 323 students Student-teacher ratio: 16:1 Minority enrollment: 96%
Rank: #22.
Oak Park Elementary School
(Math: 25-29% | Reading: 15-19%)
Rank:
Rank:
2/
Bottom 50%10
1205 Oak Park Avenue
Laurel, MS 39440
(601) 428-5046
Laurel, MS 39440
(601) 428-5046
Gr: PK-1 | 405 students Student-teacher ratio: 19:1 Minority enrollment: 99%
Rank: #33.
Laurel Upper Elementary School
(Math: 13% | Reading: 16%)
Rank:
Rank:
1/
Bottom 50%10
600 South 16th Avenue
Laurel, MS 39440
(601) 649-8573
Laurel, MS 39440
(601) 649-8573
Gr: 5-6 | 253 students Student-teacher ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 99%
Rank: n/an/a
Laurel Education Center
Alternative School
795 South 19th Avenue
Laurel, MS 39440
(601) 649-5195
Laurel, MS 39440
(601) 649-5195
Gr: 4-12
Rank: n/an/a
1305 Martin Luther King Ave
Laurel, MS 39440
(601) 438-3140
Laurel, MS 39440
(601) 438-3140
Gr: 2-4 | 519 students Student-teacher ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 99%
Recent Articles
When “Free Public School” Still Isn’t Free
Discover the hidden costs of public school in 2026, from supplies and fees to transportation, technology, and extracurricular expenses.
What a District Budget Cut Means for Your Child's School Experience
Learn how district budget cuts can affect class sizes, programs, staffing, transportation, and your child's daily school experience in 2026.
School Closure Risk: What Parents Should Check Before Moving
Learn how parents can assess school closure risk before buying or renting in a district, using enrollment, funding, and boundary data.
