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The Bay St. Louis bridge from abovePhoto: Frank Kovalchek from Anchorage, Alaska, USA · CC BY 2.0
A−
Schools in Bay St. Louis · Bay St. Louis-Waveland School District, Hancock County School District

Bay St. Louis’s public schools outscore 77% of Mississippi districts

51% of students in Bay St. Louis’s public schools are proficient in reading, above the Mississippi average (42%). The grade covers the two public school districts serving Bay St. Louis, from kindergarten through graduation, on state tests and graduation. Each state writes its own tests, so this is the one TownRatings grade compared within Mississippi, not nationally.

#38of 101 Mississippi townsK–12Where will my kid go?

From Mississippi state tests taken in spring 2022, when 98% of students in the tested grades sat them, and the class of 2023’s four-year graduation rate, as reported to the U.S. Department of Education.

Reading proficiency
51%
▲ 9 pts vs MS 42%
2021–22
Math proficiency
57%
▲ 10 pts vs MS 47%
2021–22
Graduate on time
88%
▼ 1 pts vs MS 89%
class of 2023
Spent per student
$12.2K
▼ 2% vs MS $12.4K
FY2024 · Hancock County
Students per teacher
15.9
MS 13.9 · larger classes
Schools in town
6
3,530 students on the public path
In brief

Bay St. Louis’s schools, in brief

Against towns with similar incomes

Among the 120 Mississippi towns with household incomes within a quarter of Bay St. Louis’s, its schools beat 58%, lower than their 77% against all the state’s districts. The grade ↓

Above the state on tests

Reading proficiency is 51% and math 57% across both districts in spring 2022, against 42% and 47% statewide; 88% of the class of 2023 graduated in four years, against 89%. Test scores ↓

Spending and class size

Bay St. Louis-Waveland spends $16,586 per student and Hancock County $12,161, against $12,392 across Mississippi (FY2024). Neither counts toward the grade. Districts ↓

Choice beyond the district

St. Stanislaus (private), Holy Trinity Catholic School (private) and Dominion Christian Academy, Inc. (private) are in town. Every school ↓

Written from the figures on this page. Tests are from 2021–22, graduation from the class of 2023; each school’s own letter uses 2020–21 results.

The School Grade

What’s behind Bay St. Louis’s grade

A− Test scoresB− Graduation

A−: better than 77% of Mississippi school districts, #38 of 101 Mississippi towns. Test scores are above the Mississippi average; graduation is below it.

Mississippi school districts we grade (150)Better than 77%
Lower resultsHigher results
Mississippi towns with similar household incomes (120)Better than 58%
B+AA fairly firm grade. Ordinary sampling error in 3,026 test results and a graduating class of 290 could put Bay St. Louis anywhere from B+ to A. The tests are from spring 2022, when 98% of Bay St. Louis’s students in the tested grades sat them (3,029 in math, 3,025 in reading).

How TownRatings grades schools →

Where will my kid go?

Pick a grade. These are the public schools that serve Bay St. Louis, with each school’s own grade.

The path, start to finish
PK–55 elementary schoolsDepends on your addressB− to A+
6–8Bay Waveland Middle SchoolBay St. Louis-Waveland School DistrictA−
9–12Bay High SchoolBay St. Louis-Waveland School DistrictB+

Bay St. Louis runs its own schools through grade 12 (Bay St. Louis-Waveland School District). From grade PK, students attend the Hancock County School District, shared with Diamondhead and Waveland. Its elementary school is in Kiln. To confirm the school for a specific address, ask the district.

Two districts serve Bay St. Louis

Spending and class size are shown but don’t count toward the grade. Each district’s own page has every school.

Bay St. Louis-Waveland School DistrictGrades PK–12 · 4 schools · 1,664 students · 15.7 per teacher (MS 13.9)
$16,586MS $12,392 · FY2024
A+
Hancock County School DistrictGrades PK–12 · 6 schools · 3,934 students, down 5% since 2020–21 · 16.2 per teacher (MS 13.9)
$12,161MS $12,392 · FY2024
B+
Test scores · 2021–22

Well above the state in reading

Reading · PK–12, Bay St. Louis-Waveland School District50%
State average 41.7% · 860 students tested
Math · PK–12, Bay St. Louis-Waveland School District56%
State average 47% · 865 students tested
Reading · PK–12, Hancock County School District51%
State average 41.7% · 2165 students tested
Math · PK–12, Hancock County School District57%
State average 47% · 2164 students tested

Bay St. Louis vs. its neighbors

Schools grades for the Mississippi towns that share Bay St. Louis’s borders.

Schools next door
TownSchoolsMain districts
Bay St. LouisA−Bay St. Louis-Waveland PK–12 · Hancock County PK–12
WavelandA−Bay St. Louis-Waveland PK–12 · Hancock County PK–12
DiamondheadB+Hancock County

All 2 neighbors share Hancock County with Bay St. Louis for grades PK–12, so their letters differ mainly through the lower grades.

Every school in Bay St. Louis

11 schools. Each public school’s letter compares its own 2020–21 reading and math results with Mississippi’s other public schools (the newest school-level results we have).

District schools in Bay St. Louisby address
North Bay Elementary
Elementary · Grades 3–6 · Bay St Louis
A−
348 students15:1Rate it →
Bay Waveland Middle School
Middle · Grades 6–8
A−
365 students15:1Rate it →
Bay High School
High · Grades 9–12 · Bay St Louis
B+
491 students14:1Rate it →
Also serving Bay St. Louisin other towns
East Hancock Elementary School
Elementary · Grades PK–5 · Kiln
A+
633 students21:1Rate it →
South Hancock Elementary School
Elementary · Grades PK–5
B−
480 studentsRate it →
Waveland Elementary School
Elementary · Grades PK–2 · Waveland
460 students19:1Rate it →
Hancock North Central School
Elementary · Grades PK–5 · Kiln
A−
404 students14:1Rate it →
West Hancock Elementary
Elementary · Grades K–5 · Picayune
B+
349 students13:1Rate it →
Private schoolstuition; no state tests, so no grade
St. Stanislaus
High · Grades 7–12 · Bay St Louis
Private · Catholic · All-boys
329 students12:1Rate it →
Holy Trinity Catholic School
Elementary · Grades PK–6 · Bay St Louis
Private · Catholic
283 students19:1Rate it →
Dominion Christian Academy, Inc.
High · Grades 9–12 · Bay St Louis
Private · Religious
9 students9:1Rate it →

Questions about Bay St. Louis’s schools

Are Bay St. Louis’s schools good?

By Mississippi’s own tests, yes: the public schools Bay St. Louis children attend outscore 77% of Mississippi’s school districts on tests and graduation, an A− Schools grade, #38 of 101 Mississippi towns. Among towns with similar incomes they beat 58%. Tests are from 2021–22, graduation from the class of 2023.

What school district is Bay St. Louis in?

Two districts: Bay St. Louis-Waveland School District runs grades PK–12, and Hancock County School District runs grades PK–12, shared with Diamondhead and Waveland.

Where do Bay St. Louis kids go to high school?

Bay High School in Bay St Louis, with 491 students; its own test results earn a B+.

What is Bay St. Louis’s graduation rate?

88% of the class of 2023 in Hancock County School District graduated in four years, against 89% across Mississippi.

How much does Bay St. Louis spend per student?

$16,586 in Bay St. Louis-Waveland School District and $12,161 in Hancock County School District (FY2024), against $12,392 across Mississippi. Spending doesn’t count toward the grade.

Are there private schools in Bay St. Louis?

Yes: St. Stanislaus (catholic · all-boys, grades 7–12, 329 students), Holy Trinity Catholic School (Catholic, grades PK–6, 283 students) and Dominion Christian Academy, Inc. (religious, grades 9–12, 9 students).

Parents talk

What Bay St. Louis families are saying about school.

Town Square →
Start the conversation

Looking for colleges? Colleges near Bay St. Louis → They have their own page.

School data: state test results (2021–22, with participation) and four-year graduation rates (class of 2023) reported to the U.S. Department of Education (EDFacts via ED Data Express); each school’s own letter uses its 2020–21 results (EDFacts via the Urban Institute); schools and enrollment from NCES (2024–25; private schools 2023–24); spending from the Census Bureau’s school finance survey (FY2024). The School Grade is our own summary, graded within Mississippi. Stars are from neighbors.