The top reported proficiency rate is 33% in Science. The lowest is 20% in Math.
Original Research by School Decision on Mason Elementary School
Mason Elementary School is a now-closed campus in Laurel, Mississippi, part of the Laurel School District. The school's operational status means families cannot enroll here today, but the record of its last reported academic results still tells a story about the educational environment that existed for children in this part of the city. The grade band listed is unusual, showing only a single multi-grade designation rather than a standard span, which suggests the school served a specific or specialized configuration rather than a conventional elementary range. Because the school is closed, current enrollment figures, demographic breakdowns, staffing levels, and program offerings are not available, and the absence of those details reflects the school's inactive status rather than a reporting gap.
The academic results that remain come from the Mississippi Academic Assessment Program. In the most recent reported year, third-grade math proficiency sat well below what Mississippi schools typically aim for, with roughly one in five tested students reaching proficient or above. Third-grade English language arts results were somewhat stronger, with close to a quarter of tested students meeting proficiency. An earlier fifth-grade science result, from a different assessment year, showed about a third of tested students reaching proficiency, though changes to the assessment and cut scores in science make direct comparison across years unreliable. Participation rates for these tests were not reported. No multi-year trend data was available, so it is difficult to say whether these results were improving, declining, or holding steady before the school closed. What can be said is that the academic outcomes captured here were modest, and a parent looking at this record would want to understand how the Laurel School District has redistributed these students and what supports are now in place for them.
Laurel itself is a small city in Jones County with deep roots in the timber industry. The lumber boom of the early twentieth century shaped its broad avenues, its historic district, and its civic institutions. Today the city retains a manufacturing and healthcare employment base, with employers like Howard Industries, Sanderson Farms, and South Central Regional Medical Center anchoring the local economy. Publicly reported sources note that Laurel's population has declined substantially from its mid-century peak, reflecting the broader pattern of manufacturing job losses across the region. In recent years, though, the HGTV series "Hometown" has drawn national attention to Laurel, spurring renovation activity in the historic district and bringing a new stream of tourism dollars. The Lauren Rogers Museum of Art, Mississippi's oldest art museum, remains a civic anchor. Interstate 59 and several U.S. highways connect Laurel to the wider region, and the Hattiesburg-Laurel Regional Airport sits a short drive southwest.
The housing market around the school's former location is affordable by any standard. Home values in the zip code sit well below the state benchmark and far below the national figure, and recent data shows values have been declining modestly year over year. For families with moderate incomes, ownership costs are low relative to much of the country. Rental data was not available, so a complete picture of the local rental market is not possible from this record.
We searched for recent parent-relevant changes in the Laurel School District but found little of lasting impact beyond general district information, so there is nothing specific to report about recent initiatives, leadership changes, or program shifts. For families living in this area, the closure of Mason Elementary means the relevant question is no longer whether this school fits their child but where the district has placed former Mason students and what those receiving schools look like. The academic results left behind suggest those students were entering a system where proficiency rates were below state expectations, and a parent may want to ask the district directly what interventions and resources have followed them.
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