Pearl River Central Elementar

Q: Is Pearl River Central Elementar a good school?

Pearl River Central Elementar ranks 116 th of 390 Mississippi elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 4 stars out of 5.

Summary:

Pearl River Central Elementar is a public elementary school in Carriere, Mississippi, serving 1,501 students in grades PK-5 and part of the Poplarville Separate School District, which is ranked 27th out of 130 districts in the state.

Pearl River Central Elementar stands out for its consistently strong academic performance, outpacing the state average on MAAP (Mississippi Academic Assessment Program) tests across all grade levels and subjects. For example, the school's 5th-grade science proficiency rate was 84.4% in 2023-2024, compared to the state average of 71.2%. Over the past decade, the school has maintained a top-third ranking among Mississippi elementary schools, earning a 4-star rating from SchoolDigger. However, the school has a significantly higher percentage of white students (85.68%) compared to nearby schools, which have more diverse student populations. Additionally, over 99% of Pearl River Central Elementar's students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, indicating a high level of economic need.

When compared to nearby schools, Pearl River Central Elementar stands out as a high-performing institution, but there are some interesting differences. For example, Hancock North Central Elementary, located 16.32 miles away, has similar demographics but outperforms Pearl River Central Elementar in several academic areas, such as 3rd-grade math and 5th-grade science. This raises questions about the school's ability to provide a diverse and inclusive learning environment and ensure equitable access to educational opportunities for all students, despite its overall academic success.

Detail:

Public PK, KG-5

116 Alphabet Ave
Carriere, MS 39426

(601) 799-4519

District: Pearl River County School District

SchoolDigger Rank:
116^th of 390 Mississippi Elementary Schools

Per Pupil Expenditures: $8,723

Students who attend Pearl River Central Elementar usually attend:

Middle:	Pearl River Central Junior High
High:	Pearl River Central High School

Student/teacher ratio: 14.5

Number of students: 1,491

Racial breakdown:

White:

85.8%

Two or more races:

8.2%

African American:

2.7%

Free/discounted lunch recipients: 66.3%

See top rated Mississippi elementary schools

Compare Pearl River Central Elementar to nearby elementary schools!

Performance Trends

Compare Details Pearl River Central Elementar ranks better than 70.3% of elementary schools in Mississippi. (See more...)

Compare Details In 2024 the calculated Average Standard Score was 68.08. (See more...)

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 (85.8%), two or more races (8.2%), African American (2.7%). (See more...)

Compare Details 66.3% of students are receiving a free or discounted lunch. (See more...)

Teachers

Compare Details The student/teacher ratio at Pearl River Central Elementar is 14.5. (See more...)

Compare Pearl River Central Elementar employs 102.5 full-time teachers.

Finance

Compare Details The average total spent per student at Pearl River Central Elementar is $8,723.

Schooldigger Rankings:

Pearl River Central Elementar was not ranked this year due to insufficient test score data.

Pearl River County School District:

SchoolDigger ranks Pearl River County School District 27^th of 130 Mississippi school districts. (See district ranking list.)

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Rank History for Pearl River Central Elementar

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Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Elementary Schools	MS State Percentile
2008	75.48	82^nd	394	79.2%
2009	80.26	61^st	392	84.4%
2010	82.76	50^th	403	87.6%
2011	59.43	175^th	418	58.1%
2012	75.80	88^th	414	78.7%
2013	78.02	80^th	408	80.4%
2014	70.84	105^th	394	73.4%
2015	68.25	111^th	402	72.4%
2016	63.40	145^th	394	63.2%
2017	62.20	147^th	406	63.8%
2019	59.26	158^th	397	60.2%
2021	68.05	116^th	381	69.6%
2022	63.43	140^th	382	63.4%
2023	63.84	129^th	377	65.8%
2024	68.08	116^th	390	70.3%

See the entire list of Mississippi Elementary 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 Pearl River Central Elementar

Compare

Year	White	African American	Asian	Hispanic	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Total
1990	729	34	0	2	0	n/a	n/a	765
1991	736	34	0	1	2	n/a	n/a	773
1992	731	41	0	0	0	n/a	n/a	772
1993	710	36	0	4	0	n/a	n/a	750
1994	769	42	2	4	0	n/a	n/a	817
1995	868	39	0	2	1	n/a	n/a	910
1996	868	39	0	2	1	n/a	n/a	910
1997	897	48	1	3	0	n/a	n/a	949
1998	938	47	0	5	0	n/a	n/a	990
1999	1006	40	0	2	1	n/a	n/a	1049
2000	1428	57	1	6	0	n/a	n/a	1492
2001	1514	51	3	7	2	n/a	n/a	1577
2002	1453	63	6	5	3	n/a	n/a	1530
2003	1453	63	6	5	3	n/a	n/a	1530
2004	1461	54	6	6	5	n/a	n/a	1532
2005	892	34	6	3	2	n/a	n/a	937
2006	642	35	3	9	1	n/a	n/a	690
2007	684	34	1	6	2	n/a	n/a	727
2008	655	40	1	10	4	n/a	n/a	710
2009	682	46	3	17	4	0	0	752
2010	675	34	3	16	4	0	11	743
2011	671	28	3	19	3	0	12	736
2012	629	30	1	16	3	0	8	687
2013	654	20	4	18	5	0	6	707
2014	654	17	6	14	3	0	14	708
2015	666	26	4	13	3	0	17	729
2016	654	25	2	16	4	0	30	731
2017	670	26	3	16	3	0	23	741
2018	701	25	2	14	3	0	27	772
2019	1289	43	3	28	6	0	75	1444
2020	1293	54	3	21	7	0	98	1476
2021	1231	48	3	28	8	0	105	1423
2022	1287	41	3	30	10	0	121	1492
2023	1286	46	2	30	8	0	129	1501
2024	1279	40	4	39	6	0	123	1491

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 Pearl River Central Elementar

Compare

Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
1990	765	33.6	22.7	n/a
1991	773	34.3	22.5	n/a
1992	772	34.0	22.7	37.7
1993	750	34.5	21.7	40.5
1994	817	35.9	22.8	44.6
1995	910	41.4	22.0	42.1
1996	910	41.4	22.0	42.1
1997	949	43.3	21.9	42.7
1998	990	47.4	20.9	39.1
1999	1049	102.1	10.3	51.2
2000	1492	73.7	20.2	53.3
2001	1577	75.6	20.9	54.3
2002	1530	79.2	19.3	57.5
2003	1530	79.2	19.3	57.5
2004	1532	85.5	17.9	59.3
2005	937	46.9	20.0	55.3
2006	690	41.2	16.7	53.9
2007	727	40.0	18.2	56
2008	710	43.1	16.5	53.9
2009	752	45.1	16.7	61.4
2010	743	45.9	16.1	64.3
2011	736	47.9	15.3	67.8
2012	687	46.0	14.9	68.1
2013	707	46.5	15.1	69.3
2014	708	41.4	17.0	70.1
2015	729	41.0	17.7	65.2
2016	731	39.0	18.7	67.6
2017	741	36.9	20.0	99.6
2018	772	42.9	17.9	100
2019	1444	82.6	17.4	100
2020	1476	83.9	17.5	100
2021	1423	82.9	17.1	100
2022	1492	85.0	17.5	99.8
2023	1501	100.7	14.8	99.8
2024	1491	102.5	14.5	66.3

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 Pearl River Central Elementar

Compare

Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
1990	765	33.6	22.7	n/a
1991	773	34.3	22.5	n/a
1992	772	34.0	22.7	37.7
1993	750	34.5	21.7	40.5
1994	817	35.9	22.8	44.6
1995	910	41.4	22.0	42.1
1996	910	41.4	22.0	42.1
1997	949	43.3	21.9	42.7
1998	990	47.4	20.9	39.1
1999	1049	102.1	10.3	51.2
2000	1492	73.7	20.2	53.3
2001	1577	75.6	20.9	54.3
2002	1530	79.2	19.3	57.5
2003	1530	79.2	19.3	57.5
2004	1532	85.5	17.9	59.3
2005	937	46.9	20.0	55.3
2006	690	41.2	16.7	53.9
2007	727	40.0	18.2	56
2008	710	43.1	16.5	53.9
2009	752	45.1	16.7	61.4
2010	743	45.9	16.1	64.3
2011	736	47.9	15.3	67.8
2012	687	46.0	14.9	68.1
2013	707	46.5	15.1	69.3
2014	708	41.4	17.0	70.1
2015	729	41.0	17.7	65.2
2016	731	39.0	18.7	67.6
2017	741	36.9	20.0	99.6
2018	772	42.9	17.9	100
2019	1444	82.6	17.4	100
2020	1476	83.9	17.5	100
2021	1423	82.9	17.1	100
2022	1492	85.0	17.5	99.8
2023	1501	100.7	14.8	99.8
2024	1491	102.5	14.5	66.3

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 Pearl River Central Elementar

Year	Total Expenditures Per Pupil
2017	$7,323
2018	$7,510
2019	$7,619
2020	$8,352
2021	$8,074
2022	$8,723

Data source: Mississippi Department of Education

Pre and Post Pandemic Data

Impact of COVID-19 on Pearl River Central Elementar

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 158^th of 397 Elementary schools	Ranks 129^th of 377 Elementary schools	5.6%

Test Scores

	% proficient Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)	% proficient Post pandemic (2022-2023)	Change (%)
3rd Grade English Language Arts (Pearl River Central Elementar)	53	53.2	0.2%
3rd Grade English Language Arts (Pearl River County School District)	53	53.2	0.2%
3rd Grade English Language Arts (Mississippi)	48.3	51.6	3.3%
3rd Grade Mathematics (Pearl River Central Elementar)	54.1	58.9	4.8%
3rd Grade Mathematics (Pearl River County School District)	54.1	58.9	4.8%
3rd Grade Mathematics (Mississippi)	51.4	54.8	3.4%
4th Grade English Language Arts (Pearl River Central Elementar)	48.1	52.2	4.1%
4th Grade English Language Arts (Pearl River County School District)	48.1	52.2	4.1%
4th Grade English Language Arts (Mississippi)	48.5	53.4	4.9%
4th Grade Mathematics (Pearl River Central Elementar)	47.3	61.1	13.8%
4th Grade Mathematics (Pearl River County School District)	47.3	61.1	13.8%
4th Grade Mathematics (Mississippi)	48.8	56.7	7.9%
5th Grade English Language Arts (Pearl River Central Elementar)	41.5	55.2	13.7%
5th Grade English Language Arts (Pearl River County School District)	41.5	55.2	13.7%
5th Grade English Language Arts (Mississippi)	43	51.9	8.9%
5th Grade Mathematics (Pearl River Central Elementar)	31.9	39.2	7.3%
5th Grade Mathematics (Pearl River County School District)	31.9	39.2	7.3%
5th Grade Mathematics (Mississippi)	38.9	44.3	5.4%
5th Grade Science (Pearl River Central Elementar)	69.2	79.2	10%
5th Grade Science (Pearl River County School District)	69.2	79.2	10%
5th Grade Science (Mississippi)	55.9	64.3	8.4%

Student Body

	Number of students Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)	Number of students Post pandemic (2022-2023)	Change (%)
Total Students	1444	1501	3.9%
African American	43	46	7%
American Indian	6	8	33.3%
Asian	3	2	33.3%
Hispanic	28	30	7.1%
Pacific Islander	0	0
White	1289	1286	0.2%
Two or More Races	75	129	72%
% Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients	100%	99.8%	0.2%

Schools Near Pearl River Central Elementar

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 Science (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 3rd Grade	MAAP English Language Arts 4th Grade	MAAP English Language Arts 5th Grade	MAAP English Language Arts 6th Grade	MAAP Mathematics 3rd Grade	MAAP Mathematics 4th Grade	MAAP Mathematics 5th Grade	MAAP Mathematics 6th Grade	MAAP Science 5th Grade	Total
Pearl River Central Elementar	Public	PK, KG-5	116 Alphabet Ave	Carriere	39426	Pearl River County	Pearl River County School District	No	No	No	Yes	(601) 799-4519	1,491	103	14.5	66.3%	1,279 (85.8%)	40 (2.7%)	39 (2.6%)	4 (0.3%)	6 (0.4%)	0 (0.0%)	123 (8.2%)	68.1	116^th of 390 public elementary schools	70.3%		63.8	129^th of 377 public elementary schools	65.8%	13	58.9	62.9	53.2		59.2	62.9	55.4		84.4	$8,723
Roseland Park Elementary School	Public	K-6	1610 Gilcrease Street	Picayune	39466	Pearl River County	Picayune School District	No	No	No	Yes	(601) 798-6824	368	26	14.0	100.0%	201 (54.6%)	114 (31.0%)	2 (0.5%)	8 (2.2%)	3 (0.8%)	0 (0.0%)	40 (10.9%)	36.4	257^th of 390 public elementary schools	34.1%		29.8	282^nd of 377 public elementary schools	25.2%	25	57.2	54.9	39.1	24.5	54.8	31.4	23.9	47.8	62.2	$10,680
West Side Elementary School	Public	K-6	111 Kirkwood Street	Picayune	39466	Pearl River County	Picayune School District	No	No	No	Yes	(601) 798-3625	419	28	15.1	100.0%	274 (65.4%)	99 (23.6%)	2 (0.5%)	7 (1.7%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	37 (8.8%)	46.8	213^th of 390 public elementary schools	45.4%		34.6	259^th of 377 public elementary schools	31.3%	46	62.7	54.3	64.7	30.8	25.4	34.2	43.2	61.5	64.7	$9,135
South Side Elementary School	Public	3-6	1500 Rosa Street	Picayune	39466	Pearl River County	Picayune School District	No	No	No	Yes	(601) 798-1105	313	18	17.1	100.0%	197 (62.9%)	96 (30.7%)	2 (0.6%)	1 (0.3%)	2 (0.6%)	0 (0.0%)	15 (4.8%)	72.1	101^st of 390 public elementary schools	74.1%		62.9	135^th of 377 public elementary schools	64.2%	34	61.8	65.8	52.2	57.9	54.3	68.4	55.0	66.2	82.8	$10,089
South Side Lower Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-2	400 South Beech Street	Picayune	39466	Pearl River County	Picayune School District	No	No	No	Yes	(601) 799-0683	340	22	15.7	100.0%	191 (56.2%)	123 (36.2%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	25 (7.4%)								(n/a)										$9,400
Early Head Start Rosa Street	Public	PK	1620 Rosa Street	Picayune	39466	Pearl River County	Picayune School District	No	No	No	No	(601) 799-4702	151	23	6.6	100.0%	42 (27.8%)	90 (59.6%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.7%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	18 (11.9%)								(n/a)										$47,825
West Hancock Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	23350 Highway 43	Picayune	39466	Pearl River County	Hancock County School District	No	No	No	Yes	(228) 586-6054	363	31	11.6	62.8%	323 (89.0%)	10 (2.8%)	6 (1.7%)	0 (0.0%)	3 (0.8%)	0 (0.0%)	21 (5.8%)	79.2	66^th of 390 public elementary schools	83.1%		76.3	73^rd of 377 public elementary schools	80.6%	7	68.8	70.3	57.9		68.8	64.8	73.7		80.7	$13,477
Early Head Start Nicholson	Public	PK	1865 Hwy 11 South	Picayune	39466	Pearl River County	Picayune School District	No	No	No	No	(601) 798-7808	196	17	11.4	100.0%	85 (43.4%)	88 (44.9%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	23 (11.7%)								(n/a)										$3,002
Nicholson Elementary School	Public	K-6	1887 Hwy 11 South	Picayune	39466	Pearl River County	Picayune School District	No	No	No	Yes	(601) 798-6309	363	30	11.9	100.0%	164 (45.2%)	108 (29.8%)	7 (1.9%)	3 (0.8%)	1 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	80 (22.0%)	40.2	246^th of 390 public elementary schools	36.9%		28.1	287^th of 377 public elementary schools	23.9%	41	50.9	42.6	39.4	35.6	62.8	27.8	48.5	40.0	69.7	$10,851
Poplarville Lower Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-2	804 South Julia Street Suite A	Poplarville	39470	Pearl River County	Poplarville Separate School District	No	No	No	Yes	(601) 795-4736	494	41	12.0	62.6%	412 (83.4%)	44 (8.9%)	2 (0.4%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.2%)	1 (0.2%)	34 (6.9%)								(n/a)										$9,481

Frequently Asked Questions about Pearl River Central Elementar

What is the racial makeup of Pearl River Central Elementar?

Students at Pearl River Central Elementar are 86% White, 8% Two or more races, 3% African American, 3% Hispanic.

Is Pearl River Central Elementar a good school?

Pearl River Central Elementar ranks 116^th of 390 Mississippi elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 4 stars out of 5.

How many students attend Pearl River Central Elementar?

In the 2023-24 school year, 1,491 students attended Pearl River Central Elementar.

What schools do graduates of Pearl River Central Elementar attend?

Students who attend Pearl River Central Elementar usually go on to attend:

Middle : Pearl River Central Junior High
High : Pearl River Central High School

What district is Pearl River Central Elementar in?

Pearl River County School District

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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.