The top reported proficiency rate is 65% in Math. The lowest is 63% in English language arts.
Original Research by School Decision on Woodley Elementary School
Woodley Elementary School sits on O Ferrell Street in Hattiesburg, serving pre-kindergarten through fifth grade as part of the Hattiesburg Public School District. The school's enrollment is moderate for an elementary in this area, with fairly even distribution across the early grades and a smaller pre-kindergarten cohort. The student body is predominantly Black or African American, with a sizable Hispanic population and smaller White and multiracial groups. Every student at Woodley qualifies for free or reduced-price lunch, which reflects the economic profile of the surrounding neighborhoods rather than anything unusual about the school itself. Data on individualized education programs and English learner services was not available, so those are gaps a parent may want to ask the school about directly.
On Mississippi's MAAP assessments, Woodley's results tell a mixed but largely encouraging story. Third-grade math stands out as a genuine strength, with a large majority of tested students scoring proficient or above. Fourth-grade math is solid, with most students proficient. Fifth-grade math drops off considerably, with fewer than half of tested students reaching proficiency. English language arts results are more consistent across grades, with the fourth grade performing strongest and third and fifth grades both showing well over half of students proficient. Fifth-grade science results are strong, with about two-thirds of tested students proficient. The fifth-grade math slide is the clearest soft spot in the data. A parent whose child is approaching the upper elementary years may want to look into how the school supports math instruction in fifth grade specifically, since the drop from third to fifth grade is noticeable.
No multi-year trend data was available, so it is not possible to say whether these results represent improvement, decline, or stability over time. Participation rates were also missing from the state data.
Hattiesburg itself is a mid-sized city that anchors the Pine Belt region. It is a university town, home to the University of Southern Mississippi and William Carey University, which gives the community a younger character than many Mississippi cities of similar size. Camp Shelby, the largest National Guard training base east of the Mississippi River, sits just south of the city and brings a steady military presence. The city's history as a railroad and lumber center earned it the nickname "The Hub City," and it remains a regional crossroads at the intersection of Interstate 59 and several U.S. highways. The Hattiesburg Historic Neighborhood District, a 25-block area of Victorian-era homes near downtown, is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and was recognized by the American Planning Association. The African American Military History Museum, housed in the only remaining USO club building in the country, and the Freedom Summer Trail commemorating Civil Rights Movement sites give the city a layered historical identity. Public transit is limited, and the built environment is largely auto-oriented.
Housing in the school's zip code is affordable relative to state and national benchmarks. Typical home values sit well below the Mississippi statewide figure and far below the national median. Rents are modest. The price-to-income ratio is low, meaning a family earning the national median household income would find homeownership here relatively attainable. Home values have been roughly flat recently, while rents have ticked upward.
Woodley's parent district, Hattiesburg Public School District, has publicly reported earning an "A" state accountability rating for three consecutive years, along with recognition as a Governor's Award of Distinction recipient and a Beta District of Distinction. That broader district context is relevant: Woodley operates within a system that the state has recognized for sustained academic performance. The school's own assessment results, particularly the strong third-grade math and steady ELA performance, fit within that picture, though the fifth-grade math dip is something a family would want to understand before enrolling an older elementary student.
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