For the 2025 school year, there are 21 public elementary schools serving 11,160 students in Forrest County, MS.
The top ranked public elementary schools in Forrest County, MS are Petal Elementary School, Petal Upper Elementary School and Bellevue Elementary School. Overall testing rank is based on a school's combined math and reading proficiency test score ranking.
Forrest County, MS public elementary schools have an average math proficiency score of 56% (versus the Mississippi public elementary school average of 45%), and reading proficiency score of 52% (versus the 43% statewide average). Elementary schools in Forrest County have an average ranking of 9/10, which is in the top 20% of Mississippi public elementary schools.
Minority enrollment is 59% of the student body (majority Black), which is more than the Mississippi public elementary school average of 57% (majority Black).
Best Public Elementary Schools in Forrest County (2025)
School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Grades
Students
Rank: #11.
Petal Elementary School
(Math: 70% | Reading: 63%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 10%10
1179 Hwy 42 E
Petal, MS 39465
(601) 582-7454
Petal, MS 39465
(601) 582-7454
Grades: 3-4
| 631 students
Rank: #22.
Petal Upper Elementary School
(Math: 71% | Reading: 62%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 10%10
400 Hillcrest Loop
Petal, MS 39465
(601) 584-7660
Petal, MS 39465
(601) 584-7660
Grades: 5-6
| 665 students
Rank: #33.
Bellevue Elementary School
(Math: 64% | Reading: 62%)
Rank:
Rank:
9/
Top 20%10
1760 Old Highway 24
Hattiesburg, MS 39402
(601) 264-6724
Hattiesburg, MS 39402
(601) 264-6724
Grades: PK-5
| 1,179 students
Rank: #44.
Dixie Attendance Center
(Math: 64% | Reading: 58%)
Rank:
Rank:
9/
Top 20%10
790 Elks Lake Road
Hattiesburg, MS 39401
(601) 582-4890
Hattiesburg, MS 39401
(601) 582-4890
Grades: PK-8
| 507 students
Rank: #55.
Longleaf Elementary School
(Math: 61% | Reading: 61%)
Rank:
Rank:
9/
Top 20%10
5279 W. 4th Street
Hattiesburg, MS 39402
(601) 264-3858
Hattiesburg, MS 39402
(601) 264-3858
Grades: PK-5
| 751 students
Rank: #66.
Woodley Elementary School
(Math: 55-59% | Reading: 50-54%)
Rank:
Rank:
8/
Top 30%10
2006 O Ferrell St
Hattiesburg, MS 39401
(601) 583-8112
Hattiesburg, MS 39401
(601) 583-8112
Grades: PK-5
| 461 students
Rank: #77.
Oak Grove Middle School
(Math: 61% | Reading: 49%)
Rank:
Rank:
8/
Top 30%10
2543 Old Hwy.24
Hattiesburg, MS 39402
(601) 264-4634
Hattiesburg, MS 39402
(601) 264-4634
Grades: 6-8
| 1,286 students
Rank: #88.
Runnelstown Elementary School
(Math: 60-64% | Reading: 45-49%)
Rank:
Rank:
8/
Top 30%10
9214 Highway 42
Petal, MS 39465
(601) 544-2811
Petal, MS 39465
(601) 544-2811
Grades: K-5
| 200 students
Rank: #99.
Rowan Elementary School
(Math: 55-59% | Reading: 45-49%)
Rank:
Rank:
7/
Top 50%10
500 Martin Luther King Drive
Hattiesburg, MS 39401
(601) 583-0960
Hattiesburg, MS 39401
(601) 583-0960
Grades: PK-5
| 388 students
Rank: #1010.
South Forrest Attendance Center
(Math: 52% | Reading: 49%)
Rank:
Rank:
7/
Top 50%10
8 Burborne Street
Brooklyn, MS 39425
(601) 545-7714
Brooklyn, MS 39425
(601) 545-7714
Grades: PK-8
| 565 students
Rank: #1111.
North Forrest Attendance Center
(Math: 45-49% | Reading: 50-54%)
Rank:
Rank:
7/
Top 50%10
702 Eatonville Road
Hattiesburg, MS 39401
(601) 584-6466
Hattiesburg, MS 39401
(601) 584-6466
Grades: K-6
| 214 students
Rank: #1212.
Oak Grove Upper Elementary School
(Math: 42% | Reading: 56%)
Rank:
Rank:
7/
Top 50%10
1760 Old Hwy. 24
Hattiesburg, MS 39402
(601) 264-6724
Hattiesburg, MS 39402
(601) 264-6724
Grades: 4-5
| 628 students
Rank: #1313.
Grace Christian Elementary School
(Math: 35-39% | Reading: 55-59%)
Rank:
Rank:
7/
Top 50%10
2207 W 7th Street
Hattiesburg, MS 39401
(601) 583-0662
Hattiesburg, MS 39401
(601) 583-0662
Grades: PK-5
| 345 students
Rank: #1414.
Rawls Springs Attendance Center
(Math: 40-44% | Reading: 50-54%)
Rank:
Rank:
7/
Top 50%10
10 Archie Smith Road
Hattiesburg, MS 39402
(601) 268-2217
Hattiesburg, MS 39402
(601) 268-2217
Grades: PK-6
| 215 students
Rank: #1515.
Hawkins Elementary School
(Math: 35-39% | Reading: 40-44%)
Rank:
Rank:
5/
Bottom 50%10
901 Ida Ave.
Hattiesburg, MS 39401
(601) 583-4311
Hattiesburg, MS 39401
(601) 583-4311
Grades: PK-5
| 289 students
Rank: #1616.
Thames Elementary School
(Math: 29% | Reading: 43%)
Rank:
Rank:
5/
Bottom 50%10
2900 Jamestown Road
Hattiesburg, MS 39402
(601) 582-6655
Hattiesburg, MS 39402
(601) 582-6655
Grades: PK-5
| 537 students
Rank: #1717.
Hattiesburg Steam Academy
(Math: 41% | Reading: 27%)
Rank:
Rank:
4/
Bottom 50%10
176 Wsf Tatum Dr.
Hattiesburg, MS 39401
(601) 582-5291
Hattiesburg, MS 39401
(601) 582-5291
Grades: 6
| 205 students
Rank: #1818.
Earl Travillion Attendance Center
(Math: 30-34% | Reading: 20-24%)
Rank:
Rank:
3/
Bottom 50%10
316 Travillion Drive
Hattiesburg, MS 39401
(601) 584-9303
Hattiesburg, MS 39401
(601) 584-9303
Grades: PK-8
| 258 students
Rank: n/an/a
Lillie Burney Learning Center
Alternative School
901 Ida Ave
Hattiesburg, MS 39401
(601) 584-6311
Hattiesburg, MS 39401
(601) 584-6311
Grades: 4-12
| n/a students
Rank: n/an/a
70 Leaf Lane
Hattiesburg, MS 39402
(601) 264-9764
Hattiesburg, MS 39402
(601) 264-9764
Grades: PK-5
| 747 students
Rank: n/an/a
60 Herrington Road
Petal, MS 39465
(601) 554-7244
Petal, MS 39465
(601) 554-7244
Grades: PK-2
| 1,089 students
Forrest County Public Schools (Closed)
School
Location
Grades
Students
301 Hutchinson Ave
Hattiesburg, MS 39401
(601) 544-0811
Hattiesburg, MS 39401
(601) 544-0811
Grades: 9
| 342 students
901 Ida Avenue
Hattiesburg, MS 39401
(601) 582-5291
Hattiesburg, MS 39401
(601) 582-5291
Grades: PK-6
| 391 students
526 Forrest Street
Hattiesburg, MS 39401
(601) 583-4311
Hattiesburg, MS 39401
(601) 583-4311
Grades: K-6
| 373 students
5489 Highway 42
Hattiesburg, MS 39401
(601) 583-0960
Hattiesburg, MS 39401
(601) 583-0960
Grades: K-6
| 337 students
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the top ranked public elementary schools in Forrest County, MS?
The top ranked public elementary schools in Forrest County, MS include Petal Elementary School, Petal Upper Elementary School and Bellevue Elementary School.
How many public elementary schools are located in Forrest County?
21 public elementary schools are located in Forrest County.
What is the racial composition of students in Forrest County?
Forrest County public elementary schools minority enrollment is 59% of the student body (majority Black), which is more than the Mississippi public elementary schools average of 57% (majority Black).
Which public elementary schools in Forrest County are often viewed compared to one another?
Popular comparisons of public elementary schools in Forrest County include: Oak Grove Elementary School vs. Longleaf Elementary School, Hawkins Elementary School vs. Grace Christian Elementary School, Grace Christian Elementary School vs. Hawkins Elementary School
Recent Articles

Parents’ Guide to Special Education
Special education law is not easy to decipher, with several regulations that govern special education services for disabled students. In this article, learn about the core components of the laws, rights, and individual education plans that can help create the best public school environment for your child.

Surveillance Cameras: Violation of Rights or Improved Security?
A school district in Virginia has given the green light to schools that want to install surveillance cameras in common areas like cafeterias and hallways. We’ll look at whether this is a violation of student privacy or the best way to keep order in schools.

Teachers in 19 States Allowed to Physically Punish Students
As of 2014, nineteen states still allow corporal punishment – spanking and paddling the most common choices – in their public schools. However, some argue that not only are these punishments physically harmful, they also are disproportionately administered to students of color. As a result, House democrats have taken up the issue in a new bill that would ban all forms of corporal punishment nationwide.