Schools in Hattiesburg
Hattiesburg-area K-12 schooling runs genuinely mixed by district: Hattiesburg Public School District's cited graduation rate ran approximately 94.8%, and neighboring Petal School District cited an even higher approximately 97.8% -- but Lamar County School District cited a real, disclosed graduation-rate decline this record does not omit.
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Learn moreHattiesburg Public School District's Real, Cited Graduation Rate
Hattiesburg Public School District's own cited graduation rate ran approximately 94.8% per 2024 accountability results (released September 2024) -- earning an 'A' rating under Mississippi's state accountability system for the second consecutive year, per one source.
Petal School District: A Real, Genuinely Strong, Adjacent Option
Petal School District -- a separate, adjacent incorporated city genuinely popular with Hattiesburg-area movers -- cited an even higher approximately 97.8% graduation rate, among the highest in Mississippi, with Petal High School separately cited as ranked No. 1 in the Hattiesburg metro area, No. 4 in Mississippi statewide, and in the top 9% of high schools nationally by one source.
Lamar County School District: A Real, Disclosed Decline This Record Does Not Omit
Lamar County School District (which includes the real, popular Oak Grove community within Hattiesburg's broader urban area) cited a graduation rate of approximately 89% (2022-23 school year data) -- down from approximately 93% five school years prior. This record discloses this real, honest trend directly even though the district separately earned an 'A' state accountability rating alongside the other two.
This Record Did Not Independently Confirm School-by-School Variance Within Each District
This pass did not independently confirm current, comprehensive school-by-school performance detail across any of the three area districts -- a district-wide figure very likely masks real, substantial variance between individual schools. Confirm a specific target address's actual assigned school and its current, individual performance data directly with the relevant district or the Mississippi Department of Education.
Higher-Education Anchors: USM and William Carey University
The University of Southern Mississippi (a real, current Carnegie R1 research university) and William Carey University (real, current, genuinely fast-growing enrollment) both sit inside or immediately adjacent to city limits, giving Hattiesburg a real, current dual higher-education anchor beyond the K-12 districts above.
Key takeaways
- Hattiesburg Public School District's cited graduation rate ran approximately 94.8% (2024 accountability results), earning an 'A' state rating for the second consecutive year.
- Petal School District (adjacent, separate city) cited an even higher approximately 97.8% graduation rate, with Petal High School ranked No. 1 in the metro area and top 9% nationally per one source.
- Lamar County School District cited a real, disclosed decline to approximately 89% graduation, down from approximately 93% five school years prior.
- This record did not independently confirm school-by-school performance detail within any district -- confirm a specific address's assigned school directly.
- USM (Carnegie R1) and William Carey University (fast-growing enrollment) both anchor a real, current higher-education presence beyond the K-12 system.
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