The top reported proficiency rate is 68% in English language arts. The lowest is 66% in Math.
Original Research by School Decision on Northside Elementary School
Northside Elementary School sits in Pearl, Mississippi, serving second and third graders as part of the Pearl Public School District. It is one of several campuses spread across this suburban city east of Jackson, positioned along the Pearl River. The school is a conventional public school, not a charter or magnet, and it draws from a community that mixes residential neighborhoods with the retail corridors, industrial parks, and civic institutions that define Pearl.
The school's academic results come from the Mississippi Academic Assessment Program, and because Northside serves only second and third grades, only third graders sat for the state test. In both math and English language arts, a solid majority of third graders reached proficiency, with the share clearing that bar landing well above what many Mississippi schools post. The two subjects performed at comparable levels, suggesting a relatively even foundation across literacy and numeracy for this early grade band. No multi-year trend data was available, so a parent looking to see whether these results represent steady performance or recent improvement would want to ask the school directly. Participation rate figures were also missing from the data provided.
The student body is moderately sized for an early elementary campus, with enrollment balanced fairly evenly between the two grades it serves. A substantial share of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, reflecting the working-class and middle-income mix that characterizes Pearl. The racial composition is predominantly white and Black, with smaller Hispanic and multiracial populations and a handful of students from other backgrounds. Data on students with individualized education programs and English learners was not reported, so parents whose children fall into either category may want to inquire about services and staffing directly with the school or district.
Pearl itself is a car-oriented suburb structured around major highway corridors, including Interstates 55 and 20 and U.S. Highways 80 and 49. Retail clusters along Highway 80, anchored by the Outlets of Mississippi, Bass Pro Shops, and Sam's Club, while the West Rankin Industrial Park provides a manufacturing and employment base. The city has been working since 2021 on a Main Street revitalization effort around its historic core near City Hall, but this remains a developing initiative rather than an established pedestrian district. Parks like Bright Park and Jenkins Park offer walking tracks, playgrounds, and open space for families. Trustmark Park, home to the Mississippi Mud Monsters baseball team, serves as a civic and entertainment anchor.
The housing market in the school's zip code is relatively affordable compared with national figures, with typical home values sitting below the state benchmark and rents following a similar pattern. Both home values and rents have seen modest recent growth. The price-to-income ratio suggests that buying a home in this area remains within reach for many working families compared with much of the country, and the gap between monthly rent and an estimated mortgage payment is narrow enough that either path is plausible for households weighing options. Publicly reported data on the broader Pearl Public School District did not surface specific parent-relevant changes or initiatives from the district level, so families may want to look into district strategic priorities or recent board actions on their own.
Because Northside is an early elementary campus, it has no graduation rate, no AP or career-pathway data, and no upper-grade course offerings to evaluate. Its role is foundational: giving second and third graders a strong start in reading and math before they move on to Pearl Upper Elementary and beyond. The proficiency results suggest the school is doing that work well, with most third graders meeting state standards in both core subjects. For a family living in or considering Pearl, Northside represents a solid early-grades option within a community that is growing steadily, adding jobs, and investing in infrastructure while maintaining accessible housing and a practical suburban setting.
See more original research from School Decision →