Petal High School

Summary:

Petal High School is a public high school serving 1,288 students in grades 9-12 in Petal, Mississippi, which is part of the highly-ranked Petal School District. This exceptional school consistently outperforms nearby high schools, including Purvis High School, South Jones High School, and Perry Central High School, in academic proficiency across core subjects like Algebra, English, Biology, and U.S. History.

Petal High School's strong academic performance is evidenced by its statewide ranking between 10-23 over the past several years, with proficiency rates significantly higher than the state averages. Additionally, the school maintains a relatively low student-teacher ratio, ranging from 13.6 to 14.0, suggesting a more personalized learning environment. Notably, over 99% of Petal High School's students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, indicating a high level of economic need among the student population, yet the school is still able to achieve exceptional academic outcomes.

Compared to nearby schools, Petal High School's academic performance is particularly impressive, as it outperforms schools with higher per-student spending, such as Perry Central High School and North Forrest High School. This suggests that Petal High School is effectively utilizing its resources to support student success, despite the economic challenges faced by many of its students. The school's diverse racial makeup, with a higher percentage of minority students compared to some nearby schools, further highlights its commitment to providing a high-quality education to all students.

Detail:

Public 9-12

1145 Highway 42 E
Petal, MS 39465

(601) 583-3538

District: Petal School District

SchoolDigger Rank:
18^th of 228 Mississippi High Schools

Per Pupil Expenditures: $11,044

Feeder schools for Petal High School:

Elementary:	Petal Elementary
	Petal Primary School
Middle:	Petal Middle School
	Petal Upper Elementary School

Student/teacher ratio: 14.0

Number of students: 1,335

Racial breakdown:

White:

67.5%

African American:

19.4%

Hispanic:

6.8%

Free/discounted lunch recipients: 53.7%

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Compare Petal High School to nearby high schools!

Performance Trends

Compare Details Petal High School ranks better than 92.1% of high schools in Mississippi. (See more...)

Compare Details In 2024 the calculated Average Standard Score was 84.71. (See more...)

The four-year cohort graduation rate measures the percentage of students at Petal High School who earn a standard high school diploma within four years of starting ninth grade.

Chronic absenteeism in a school refers to a situation where students repeatedly miss school, with the threshold often defined as missing 10% or more of school days for any reason, excused or unexcused.

Student Body

Compare Details Racial makeup is: White (67.5%), African American (19.4%), Hispanic (6.8%). (See more...)

Compare Details 53.7% of students are receiving a free or discounted lunch. (See more...)

Teachers

Compare Details The student/teacher ratio at Petal High School is 14. (See more...)

Compare Petal High School employs 94.9 full-time teachers.

Finance

Compare Details The average total spent per student at Petal High School is $11,044.

Schooldigger Rankings:

Petal High School was not ranked this year due to insufficient test score data.

SchoolDigger ranks Petal High School 18^th of 228 Mississippi public high schools. (See Petal High School in the ranking list.)

Petal School District:

SchoolDigger ranks Petal School District 2^nd of 130 Mississippi school districts. (See district ranking list.)

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Rank History for Petal High School

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Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	MS State Percentile
2004	78.56	13^th	232	94.4%
2005	76.29	26^th	232	88.8%
2006	78.88	10^th	232	95.7%
2007	73.66	46^th	232	80.2%
2008	82.99	9^th	235	96.2%
2009	82.26	4^th	235	98.3%
2010	82.61	8^th	235	96.6%
2011	81.22	12^th	244	95.1%
2012	84.29	11^th	241	95.4%
2013	84.02	8^th	238	96.6%
2014	84.39	11^th	236	95.3%
2015	82.98	13^th	226	94.2%
2016	83.08	20^th	231	91.3%
2017	87.46	12^th	237	94.9%
2018	86.03	13^th	233	94.4%
2019	88.77	10^th	233	95.7%
2021	86.94	11^th	231	95.2%
2022	82.82	23^rd	228	89.9%
2023	85.62	13^th	226	94.2%
2024	84.71	18^th	228	92.1%

See the entire list of Mississippi High School Rankings!

Data source: test scores: Mississippi Department of Education, rankings: SchoolDigger.com

Data source: Mississippi Department of Education

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Enrollment information for Petal High School

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Year	White	African American	Asian	Hispanic	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Total
1990	724	109	0	0	0	n/a	n/a	833
1991	715	106	1	0	0	n/a	n/a	822
1992	720	95	1	1	0	n/a	n/a	817
1993	741	91	0	0	0	n/a	n/a	832
1994	760	84	0	3	0	n/a	n/a	847
1995	882	113	4	0	0	n/a	n/a	999
1996	882	113	4	0	0	n/a	n/a	999
1997	920	100	3	0	4	n/a	n/a	1027
1998	917	104	6	0	2	n/a	n/a	1029
1999	932	103	5	0	2	n/a	n/a	1042
2000	962	108	6	0	0	n/a	n/a	1076
2001	938	117	4	2	0	n/a	n/a	1061
2002	896	131	2	5	1	n/a	n/a	1035
2003	896	131	2	5	1	n/a	n/a	1035
2004	860	125	3	9	1	n/a	n/a	998
2005	917	124	3	13	1	n/a	n/a	1058
2006	932	139	3	12	0	n/a	n/a	1086
2007	947	162	5	12	0	n/a	n/a	1126
2008	1005	164	6	18	0	n/a	n/a	1193
2009	982	175	6	15	2	0	0	1180
2010	961	188	7	13	1	0	10	1180
2011	932	184	5	17	2	0	8	1148
2012	926	191	11	15	1	0	11	1155
2013	924	186	8	27	0	0	9	1154
2014	933	211	14	32	0	0	14	1204
2015	960	229	20	36	0	1	4	1250
2016	911	228	19	42	0	1	8	1209
2017	913	248	20	43	2	0	19	1245
2018	863	234	21	59	5	1	17	1200
2019	876	224	21	74	5	2	26	1228
2020	862	199	20	68	6	0	38	1193
2021	836	203	15	65	3	0	45	1167
2022	863	227	15	73	3	1	51	1233
2023	895	235	12	82	3	0	61	1288
2024	901	259	11	91	3	0	70	1335

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Enrollment/Ethnicity

For more information about how the Department of Education defines ethnicity, see Defining Race and Ethnicity Data, National Center for Education Statistics

Students eligible for free or discounted lunch at Petal High School

Compare

Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
1990	833	48.5	17.1	n/a
1991	822	49.0	16.7	n/a
1992	817	47.4	17.2	30.7
1993	832	48.0	17.3	34.3
1994	847	48.5	17.5	32.1
1995	999	56.9	17.6	31.1
1996	999	56.9	17.6	31.1
1997	1027	59.3	17.3	29.9
1998	1029	63.8	16.1	30.8
1999	1042	69.6	15.0	41.7
2000	1076	69.2	15.5	40.7
2001	1061	73.1	14.5	41.8
2002	1035	73.9	14.0	45.6
2003	1035	73.9	14.0	45.6
2004	998	76.5	13.0	39.6
2005	1058	68.1	15.5	41.4
2006	1086	73.7	14.7	56.7
2007	1126	83.2	13.5	44.4
2008	1193	88.3	13.5	40.7
2009	1180	90.7	13.0	46.4
2010	1180	85.1	13.8	45.3
2011	1148	82.3	13.9	47.7
2012	1155	82.7	13.9	49
2013	1154	89.3	12.9	52.2
2014	1204	89.7	13.4	56.1
2015	1250	90.0	13.8	53.4
2016	1209	89.0	13.5	56
2017	1245	88.4	14.0	54.6
2018	1200	84.9	14.1	53.3
2019	1228	84.4	14.5	55.2
2020	1193	84.9	14.0	53.7
2021	1167	85.3	13.6	99.7
2022	1233	88.9	13.8	99.8
2023	1288	91.6	14.0	99.8
2024	1335	94.9	14.0	53.7

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Students eligible for discounted/free lunch:

The National School Lunch Program (NSLP) provides low-cost or free meals to students in U.S. public and nonprofit private schools based on household income. Those with incomes below 130% of the poverty line receive free lunch, while those between 130% and 185% qualify for reduced-price lunch. The percentage of students receiving free or reduced-price lunch serves as a marker for poverty, as it reflects the socioeconomic status of families in a given school or district. A higher FRPL rate typically indicates a higher concentration of low-income families, suggesting that the school or district may face additional challenges in providing adequate resources and support for student success.

Student/Teacher Ratio Petal High School

Compare

Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
1990	833	48.5	17.1	n/a
1991	822	49.0	16.7	n/a
1992	817	47.4	17.2	30.7
1993	832	48.0	17.3	34.3
1994	847	48.5	17.5	32.1
1995	999	56.9	17.6	31.1
1996	999	56.9	17.6	31.1
1997	1027	59.3	17.3	29.9
1998	1029	63.8	16.1	30.8
1999	1042	69.6	15.0	41.7
2000	1076	69.2	15.5	40.7
2001	1061	73.1	14.5	41.8
2002	1035	73.9	14.0	45.6
2003	1035	73.9	14.0	45.6
2004	998	76.5	13.0	39.6
2005	1058	68.1	15.5	41.4
2006	1086	73.7	14.7	56.7
2007	1126	83.2	13.5	44.4
2008	1193	88.3	13.5	40.7
2009	1180	90.7	13.0	46.4
2010	1180	85.1	13.8	45.3
2011	1148	82.3	13.9	47.7
2012	1155	82.7	13.9	49
2013	1154	89.3	12.9	52.2
2014	1204	89.7	13.4	56.1
2015	1250	90.0	13.8	53.4
2016	1209	89.0	13.5	56
2017	1245	88.4	14.0	54.6
2018	1200	84.9	14.1	53.3
2019	1228	84.4	14.5	55.2
2020	1193	84.9	14.0	53.7
2021	1167	85.3	13.6	99.7
2022	1233	88.9	13.8	99.8
2023	1288	91.6	14.0	99.8
2024	1335	94.9	14.0	53.7

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Student-Teacher Ratio

Student/teacher ratio is calculated by dividing the total number of students by the total number of full-time equivalent teachers. Please note that a smaller student/teacher ratio does not necessarily translate to smaller class size. In some instances, schools hire teachers part time, and some teachers are hired for specialized instruction with very small class sizes. These and other factors contribute to the student/teacher ratio. Note: For private schools, Student/teacher ratio may not include Pre-Kindergarten.

Finances

Per Pupil Expenditures for Petal High School

Year	Total Expenditures Per Pupil
2017	$9,125
2018	$8,874
2019	$9,330
2020	$10,224
2021	$10,400
2022	$11,044

Data source: Mississippi Department of Education

Pre and Post Pandemic Data

Impact of COVID-19 on Petal High School

The coronavirus has had a profound impact on education in America. Learning shifted online overnight, attendance numbers dwindled, and enrollment decreased. SchoolDigger.com is making it easier for you to better assess how COVID-19 has impacted your school. Through the collection of pre-pandemic (2019) and current data, SchoolDigger.com is sharing test scores, enrollment numbers and school demographics from schools across the country – and we make it easy to see how impacted schools compare locally and statewide.

Rankings

Rank Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)	Rank Post pandemic (2022-2023)	Change (%)
Ranks 10^th of 233 High schools	Ranks 13^th of 226 High schools	1.5%

Test Scores

	% proficient Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)	% proficient Post pandemic (2022-2023)	Change (%)
End of Course Algebra I (Petal High School)	77.1	92	14.9%
End of Course Algebra I (Petal School District)	77.1	92	14.9%
End of Course Algebra I (Mississippi)	49.3	65.8	16.5%
End of Course English II (Petal High School)	69.2	64.3	4.9%
End of Course English II (Petal School District)	69.2	64.3	4.9%
End of Course English II (Mississippi)	43.9	50.1	6.2%
End of Course Biology (Petal High School)	77.5	75	2.5%
End of Course Biology (Petal School District)	77.5	75	2.5%
End of Course Biology (Mississippi)	57.2	60.9	3.7%
End of Course U.S. History1 (Petal High School)	79.7	86.2	6.5%
End of Course U.S. History1 (Petal School District)	79.7	86.2	6.5%
End of Course U.S. History1 (Mississippi)	55.5	71.4	15.9%

Student Body

	Number of students Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)	Number of students Post pandemic (2022-2023)	Change (%)
Total Students	1228	1288	4.9%
African American	224	235	4.9%
American Indian	5	3	40%
Asian	21	12	42.9%
Hispanic	74	82	10.8%
Pacific Islander	2	0	100%
White	876	895	2.2%
Two or More Races	26	61	134.6%
% Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients	55.2%	99.8%	44.6%

Schools Near Petal High School

Choose columns to see: Summary School Students/Teachers Ranking Test Scores Finance All

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2024)				Ranking (2023)				MAAP English Language Arts (2024)		MAAP Mathematics (2024)		MAAP Algebra I (2024)	MAAP English II (2024)	MAAP Science (2024)	MAAP Biology (2024)	MAAP U.S. History1 (2024)	Per Pupil Expenditures (2022)
Name	Type	Grades	Address	City	Zip	County	District	Is Charter	Is Magnet	Is Virtual	Is Title I	Phone	Enrollment	Full-time Teachers	Student/ Teacher Ratio	Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients	White	Black	Hispanic	Asian	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Average Standard Score (2024)	Statewide Rank (2024)	State Percentile (2024)	SchoolDigger Rating (2024)	Average Standard Score (2023)	Statewide Rank (2023)	State Percentile (2023)	Rank Change from Previous Year	MAAP English Language Arts 7th Grade	MAAP English Language Arts 8th Grade	MAAP Mathematics 7th Grade	MAAP Mathematics 8th Grade	MAAP Algebra I End of Course	MAAP English II End of Course	MAAP Science 8th Grade	MAAP Biology End of Course	MAAP U.S. History1 End of Course	Total
Petal High School	Public	9-12	1145 Highway 42 E	Petal	39465	Forrest County	Petal School District	No	No	No	No	(601) 583-3538	1,335	95	14.0	53.7%	901 (67.5%)	259 (19.4%)	91 (6.8%)	11 (0.8%)	3 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	70 (5.2%)	84.7	18^th of 228 public high schools	92.1%		85.6	13^th of 226 public high schools	94.2%	5					85.9	69.8		76.1	82.2	$11,044
Hattiesburg High School	Public	9-12	301 Hutchinson Ave	Hattiesburg	39401	Forrest County	Hattiesburg Public School District	No	No	No	Yes	(601) 544-0811	988	79	12.5	100.0%	14 (1.4%)	887 (89.8%)	60 (6.1%)	1 (0.1%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	26 (2.6%)	47.8	130^th of 228 public high schools	43.0%		51.8	115^th of 226 public high schools	49.1%	15					69.5	40.2		58.1	68.2	$15,175
North Forrest High School	Public	7-12	693 Eatonville Road	Hattiesburg	39401	Forrest County	Forrest County School District	No	No	No	Yes	(601) 545-9304	347	37	9.4	85.3%	53 (15.3%)	245 (70.6%)	17 (4.9%)	3 (0.9%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.3%)	28 (8.1%)	52.6	113^th of 228 public high schools	50.4%		70.8	56^th of 226 public high schools	75.2%	57	55.7	57.2	69.6	55.1	69.4	46.1	67.4	57.1	71.4	$17,619
Oak Grove High School	Public	9-12	5198 Old Highway11	Hattiesburg	39402	Forrest County	Lamar County School District	No	No	No	No	(601) 264-7232	1,772	117	15.1	49.0%	794 (44.8%)	716 (40.4%)	116 (6.5%)	53 (3.0%)	0 (0.0%)	3 (0.2%)	90 (5.1%)	78.7	38^th of 228 public high schools	83.3%		82.1	26^th of 226 public high schools	88.5%	12					82.0	58.9		70.9	83.4	$11,168
Richton High School	Public	7-12	701 Elm Avenue	Richton	39476	Perry County	Richton School District	No	No	No	Yes	(601) 788-9608	284	27	10.6	56.7%	204 (71.8%)	66 (23.2%)	5 (1.8%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	9 (3.2%)	65.6	79^th of 228 public high schools	65.4%		54.9	105^th of 226 public high schools	53.5%	26	50.0	27.1	77.3	58.4	83.3	44.0	50.0	60.0	89.1	$11,390
Perry County Alternative Center	Public	5-12	9899 Hwy 98 East	New Augusta	39462	Perry County	Perry County School District	No	No	No	Yes	(601) 964-3235	0	0			0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()								(n/a)
Perry Central High School	Public	9-12	9899 Hwy 98 East	New Augusta	39462	Perry County	Perry County School District	No	No	No	Yes	(601) 964-3235	272	22	12.3	47.8%	168 (61.8%)	91 (33.5%)	5 (1.8%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	8 (2.9%)	29.4	162^nd of 228 public high schools	28.9%		26.5	168^th of 226 public high schools	25.7%	6					72.8	34.4		47.8	50.0	$17,415
Perry County Vocational Complex	Public	9-12	9899 A Hwy 98 East	New Augusta	39462	Perry County	Perry County School District	No	No	No	No	(601) 964-8282	0	7	.0		0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()								(n/a)
South Jones High School	Public	7-12	313 Anderson Street	Ellisville	39437	Jones County	Jones County School District	No	No	No	No	(601) 477-8451	1,348	93	14.5	60.5%	896 (66.5%)	253 (18.8%)	152 (11.3%)	6 (0.4%)	2 (0.1%)	0 (0.0%)	39 (2.9%)	71.8	57^th of 228 public high schools	75.0%		66.3	69^th of 226 public high schools	69.5%	12	42.0	46.7	64.7	61.7	71.6	53.0	54.2	72.8	82.7	$9,429
Lamar County Vocational Technical Center	Public	9-12	41 College Drive	Purvis	39475	Lamar County	Lamar County School District	No	No	No	No	(601) 794-8298	0	0	.0		0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()								(n/a)

Frequently Asked Questions about Petal High School

Is Petal High School a good school?

Yes. Petal High School ranks in the top 7.9% of Mississippi high schools.

What is the racial makeup of Petal High School?

Students at Petal High School are 67% White, 19% African American, 7% Hispanic, 5% Two or more races.

What district is Petal High School in?

Petal School District

How many students attend Petal High School?

In the 2023-24 school year, 1,335 students attended Petal High School.

What schools feed into Petal High School?

Petal High School is fed by the following schools:

Elementary : Petal Elementary
Elementary : Petal Primary School
Middle : Petal Middle School
Middle : Petal Upper Elementary School

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SchoolDigger data sources: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education, the U.S. Census Bureau and the Mississippi Department of Education.

IMPORTANT DISCLAIMERS: Not all boundaries are included. We make every effort to ensure that boundaries are up-to-date. But it's important to note that these are approximations and are for general informational purposes only. To verify legal descriptions of boundaries or school locations, contact your local tax assessor's office and/or school district.