The top reported proficiency rate is 75% in Science. The lowest is 61% in Math.
Original Research by School Decision on Poplarville Upper Elementary Sch
Poplarville Upper Elementary School sits in the small county seat of Poplarville, Mississippi, serving grades three through five as part of the Poplarville Separate School District. The town blends residential neighborhoods with civic and educational institutions, anchored by Pearl River Community College, the oldest community college in the state, and Pearl River County Hospital. Poplarville is known for its blueberry farming heritage and hosts an annual Blueberry Jubilee that brings the community together with rides, craft vendors, and rodeos. The built environment is auto-oriented, with City Hall on Highway 26 East and a low population density consistent with a rural small-town layout. Publicly reported regional positioning places Poplarville about a short drive from Hattiesburg, the Mississippi Gulf Coast, and New Orleans, giving residents access to larger amenities without living in a metropolitan area.
The school itself serves a modest enrollment across its three grade levels. Its student body is predominantly white, with smaller Black and multiracial populations and a handful of Asian and Hispanic students. A substantial share of students qualify for free or reduced-price meals. Data on English learners and students with individualized education programs was not available, so a parent looking for information on those services may want to contact the school directly.
State assessment results from the most recent Mississippi Academic Assessment Program cycle give a generally positive picture, with one area that merits attention. In English language arts, proficiency is solid across all three grades, with fourth grade standing out as particularly strong and third grade also performing well. Fifth grade ELA lands at a good level, though below the fourth-grade mark. Mathematics tells a more uneven story. Third and fourth grades both show strong proficiency, while fifth grade drops to a level where fewer than half of tested students reached proficient. This is a pattern a parent may want to look into further with the school, especially if a child is transitioning into or out of fifth grade. Science, tested only in fifth grade, shows a high proficiency rate, suggesting the school's older students are engaging well with that subject.
No multi-year trend data was available, so it is not possible to say whether these results represent improvement, decline, or stability. Participation rates for the assessments were also not reported. The school does not have charter or magnet status. Title I status was not provided in the data, and information on discipline, course access, staffing, and attendance was not available.
Housing in the surrounding area is relatively affordable. The typical home value in the school's zip code sits below both the state and national benchmarks, and the price-to-income ratio is favorable for families. Rent data was not available for this area. The housing market has seen modest recent appreciation, and the town is experiencing slight population growth, partly attributed to the expanding community college.
The district brief turned up little in the way of recent parent-relevant changes such as referendums, curriculum overhauls, or property-tax shifts, so there is nothing concrete to report on that front.
For a family considering Poplarville Upper Elementary, the school offers solid academic outcomes in the early elementary grades, with ELA and science as particular bright spots. The fifth-grade math results are the main soft spot in the data. The setting is a small, family-oriented town with affordable housing and regional access to larger cities, though daily life is car-dependent. Parents seeking details on special populations, disciplinary practices, or staffing will need to reach out to the school or district directly, as that information was not provided.
See more original research from School Decision →