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Lauren Rogers museumPhoto: Michlaovic · Public domain
B
Schools in Laurel · Laurel School District, Jones County School District

Laurel’s public schools outscore 56% of Mississippi districts

The grade covers the two public school districts serving Laurel, 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.

#57of 101 Mississippi townsK–12Where will my kid go?

From Mississippi state tests taken in spring 2022, when 100% 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
39%
▼ 3 pts vs MS 42%
2021–22
Math proficiency
43%
▼ 4 pts vs MS 47%
2021–22
Graduate on time
92%
▲ 3 pts vs MS 89%
class of 2023
Spent per student
$10.3K
▼ 17% vs MS $12.4K
FY2024 · Jones County
Students per teacher
13.9
MS 13.9
Schools in town
8
2,620 students on the public path
In brief

Laurel’s schools, in brief

Results trail the state

In spring 2022, 39% of tested students were proficient in reading and 43% in math, against 42% and 47% statewide; 100% of students in the tested grades sat the tests. The grade ↓

Graduation

92% of the class of 2023 graduated in four years, against 89% across Mississippi. Districts ↓

Spending and class size

Laurel spends $12,464 per student and Jones County $10,265, against $12,392 across Mississippi (FY2024). Neither counts toward the grade. Districts ↓

Choice beyond the district

Laurel Christian School (private) and St. Johns Day School (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 Laurel’s grade

B Test scoresB Graduation

B: better than 56% of Mississippi school districts, #57 of 101 Mississippi towns. Graduation is above the Mississippi average; test scores are below it.

Mississippi school districts we grade (150)Better than 56%
Lower resultsHigher results
Mississippi towns with similar household incomes (166)Better than 52%
B−B+A fairly firm grade. Ordinary sampling error in 5,842 test results and a graduating class of 598 could put Laurel anywhere from B− to B+. The tests are from spring 2022, when 100% of Laurel’s students in the tested grades sat them (5,834 in math, 5,850 in reading).

How TownRatings grades schools →

Where will my kid go?

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

The path, start to finish
PK–62 schoolsDepends on your addressD to A+
7–8Laurel Middle SchoolLaurel School DistrictC−
9–12Laurel High SchoolLaurel School DistrictD

Laurel runs its own schools through grade 12 (Laurel School District). From grade PK, students attend the Jones County School District, shared with Ellisville, Sandersville and Soso. To confirm the school for a specific address, ask the district.

Two districts serve Laurel

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

Laurel School DistrictGrades PK–12 · 6 schools · 2,620 students, up 6% since 2020–21 · 16.3 per teacher (MS 13.9)
$12,464MS $12,392 · FY2024
C−
Jones County School DistrictGrades PK–12 · 9 schools · 8,693 students, up 8% since 2020–21 · 13.3 per teacher (MS 13.9)
$10,265MS $12,392 · FY2024
B+
Test scores · 2021–22

Below the state in reading

Reading · PK–12, Laurel School District27%
State average 41.7% · 1437 students tested
Math · PK–12, Laurel School District30%
State average 47% · 1459 students tested
Reading · PK–12, Jones County School District43%
State average 41.7% · 4413 students tested
Math · PK–12, Jones County School District48%
State average 47% · 4375 students tested

Laurel vs. its neighbors

Schools grades for the Mississippi towns that share Laurel’s borders.

Schools next door
TownSchoolsMain districts
LaurelBLaurel PK–12 · Jones County PK–12
EllisvilleB+Jones County

Every school in Laurel

8 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 Laurelby address
Oak Park Elementary School
Elementary · Grades PK–1
D
405 students19:1Rate it →
Laurel Magnet School Of The Arts
Elementary · Grades PK–6
A+
323 students16:1Rate it →
Nora Davis Elementary
Elementary · Grades 2–4
519 students15:1Rate it →
Laurel Upper Elementary
Middle · Grades 5–6
D
253 students14:1Rate it →
Laurel Middle School
Middle · Grades 7–8
C−
388 students17:1Rate it →
Laurel High School
High · Grades 9–12
D
732 students17:1Rate it →
Private schoolstuition; no state tests, so no grade
Laurel Christian School
Grades PK–12
Private · Religious
325 students12:1Rate it →
St. Johns Day School
Elementary · Grades PK–6
Private · Nonsectarian
174 students25:1Rate it →

Left off: 3 public programs with fewer than 25 students (Jones Co Career & Technical Education Ctr, Laurel Education Center and Laurel High School Voc Complex).

Questions about Laurel’s schools

Are Laurel’s schools good?

They sit near the middle of Mississippi: the public schools Laurel children attend outscore 56% of Mississippi’s school districts on tests and graduation, a B Schools grade, #57 of 101 Mississippi towns. Among towns with similar incomes they beat 52%. Tests are from 2021–22, graduation from the class of 2023.

What school district is Laurel in?

Two districts: Laurel School District runs grades PK–12, and Jones County School District runs grades PK–12, shared with Ellisville, Sandersville and Soso.

Where do Laurel kids go to high school?

Laurel High School, with 732 students; its own test results earn a D.

What is Laurel’s graduation rate?

92% of the class of 2023 in Jones County School District graduated in four years, against 89% across Mississippi.

How much does Laurel spend per student?

$12,464 in Laurel School District and $10,265 in Jones County School District (FY2024), against $12,392 across Mississippi. Spending doesn’t count toward the grade.

Are there private schools in Laurel?

Yes: Laurel Christian School (religious, grades PK–12, 325 students) and St. Johns Day School (nonsectarian, grades PK–6, 174 students).

Parents talk

What Laurel families are saying about school.

Town Square →
Start the conversation

Looking for colleges? Colleges near Laurel → 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.