The top reported proficiency rate is 83% in Science. The lowest is 60% in Math.
Original Research by School Decision on Rowan Elementary School
Rowan Elementary sits on Martin Luther King Drive in Hattiesburg, serving pre-kindergarten through fifth grade as part of the Hattiesburg Public School District. The school draws from a city that functions as the principal hub of Mississippi's Pine Belt region, home to the University of Southern Mississippi and William Carey University, with Camp Shelby, the largest National Guard training base east of the Mississippi River, just to the south. Hattiesburg grew as a railroad and lumber town and still carries the nickname "The Hub City" for its position at the crossing of major highways and Interstate 59. The city extends across Forrest County, where it serves as the county seat, and into Lamar County on the west side.
The school serves a student body that is predominantly Black or African American, with a small number of Hispanic students and students of two or more races. Every student at Rowan qualifies for free or reduced-price lunch. The enrollment is moderate for an elementary school spanning pre-kindergarten through fifth grade. Data on students with individualized education programs and English learners was not available in the sources reviewed.
On Mississippi's state assessments, the MAAP, Rowan's results paint a mixed but in places strong picture. Fourth-grade math stands out as a particular strength, with a large share of students reaching proficiency. Fifth-grade science is similarly strong, with most tested students demonstrating proficiency. English language arts results climb steadily from third through fifth grade, with fifth-grade ELA reaching a level where most students are proficient. Third-grade math and fifth-grade math are softer spots, with roughly half of tested students reaching proficiency in each. Participation rate data was not available for any grade or subject. A parent weighing these results may want to ask the school about how it supports students in the grades and subjects where proficiency is lower, and what interventions are in place.
The broader district context matters here. Publicly reported information indicates Hattiesburg Public School District has earned the state's top accountability rating for three consecutive years, along with recognition as a Governor's Award of Distinction recipient and a Beta District of Distinction. This suggests a district-level commitment to academic performance that surrounds Rowan's own results.
Housing in the school's zip code is affordable relative to both state and national benchmarks. Home values sit well below the Mississippi average and considerably below national figures, and rents are similarly modest. The price-to-income ratio for the area is low by national standards, and renting costs less per month than carrying a mortgage at current rates, which could appeal to families looking to move into the attendance zone. Home values have been roughly flat year over year, while rents have risen at a faster clip.
Hattiesburg itself is an auto-oriented city, built around highway intersections and historic rail lines, with walkable pockets concentrated downtown and in select cultural destinations. The city operates under a mayor-council government across five wards. Major employers include the two universities, two hospital systems, Camp Shelby, and national company branches such as Kohler Engines and BAE Systems. The Hattiesburg Zoo at Kamper Park and the African American Military History Museum, housed in the only remaining USO club building in the United States, serve as civic and cultural anchors. The Freedom Summer Trail documents Civil Rights Movement sites throughout the city.
The city experienced significant growth pressure after Hurricane Katrina, absorbing evacuees and new residents from coastal areas, and later expanded through a west-side annexation that added commercial land. Publicly reported city materials describe Hattiesburg as aiming to become a premier city in the Gulf South.
For a family considering Rowan, the school offers a pre-kindergarten through fifth-grade pathway in a district with a strong overall accountability standing. The academic results show real strengths in upper-elementary science and fourth-grade math, alongside softer spots in third-grade and fifth-grade math that warrant a closer conversation with school staff. The surrounding neighborhood offers affordable housing options, and the city provides university, healthcare, and military employment anchors within a regional hub.
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