Public schools in Forest, MS
5 open public schools with an address in Forest, operated by 2 education agencies. Compare size, staffing, grade spans, and school type, then confirm assignment with the district.
Public schools
5
NCES preliminary directory 2025–26
Reported students
2,494
5 schools reporting · NCES 2024–25
Median student–teacher ratio
15.5:1
Mississippi median 13.9:1
Charter schools
0
0 virtual
An overview of Forest public schools
The federal directory lists 5 public schools in Forest, MS: 1 elementary, 1 middle, 2 high, 1 combined or other. The 5 schools that reported 2024–25 membership enrolled 2,494 students, an average of 499 per school. The largest campus is Scott Central Attendance Center (856 students), and the largest elementary school is Forest Elementary (740).
Forest Municipal School District operates the most schools here (3), and 2 regular districts have at least one Forest campus. City names come from school mailing addresses, which often differ from district or municipal boundaries.
Across schools that reported staffing, the median student–teacher ratio is 15.5:1, higher than the statewide school median of 13.9:1. A ratio counts classroom-teacher FTE against total enrollment, so specialized programs and part-time staffing can move it; ask schools for actual class sizes by grade.
Among 2 high and combined schools with 2021–22 civil-rights data, 2 reported students enrolled in AP courses and 1 of 2 reported computer-science classes. Confirm current course catalogs directly with each school.
About 90% of students in reporting schools were eligible for free or reduced-price meals in 2024–25. This describes the community served; it is not a quality signal, and community-eligibility schools can report differently.
School districts and agencies serving Forest
Elementary schools in Forest
1| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Forest Elementary Forest Municipal School District | PK–04 | 740 | 18.4:1 |
Middle schools in Forest
1| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hawkins Middle School Forest Municipal School District | 05–08 | 460 | 13.8:1 |
High schools in Forest
2| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Forest High School Forest Municipal School District | 09–12 | 438 | 13.6:1 | |
| Forest Scott Co Voc Tech Center Scott County School District · Career and Technical School | 08–12 | 0 | — |
Combined, early-childhood, and other schools in Forest
1| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Scott Central Attendance Center Scott County School District | PK–12 | 856 | 17.2:1 |
Student demographics
Race and ethnicity share of reported enrollment
- White15.1%
- Hispanic36.6%
- Black43.5%
- Asian0.3%
- American Indian / Alaska Native0.2%
- Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander0%
- Multiracial4.4%
Enrollment-weighted across 4 Forest schools with NCES CCD 2024–25 race/ethnicity counts (2,494 students). Privacy suppression can leave small gaps.
Questions about public schools in Forest
How many public schools are in Forest, MS?
The current NCES directory lists 5 open public schools with a location address in Forest: 1 elementary, 1 middle, 2 high, 1 combined or other. Together they reported 2,494 students in 2024–25. The count includes charter, alternative, and special-purpose public schools; it excludes private schools.
Which school districts serve Forest?
Schools with an address in Forest belong to 2 education agencies, led by Forest Municipal School District (3 schools), Scott County School District (2 schools). A mailing city is not an attendance boundary; confirm the district for a specific address.
What is the largest public high school in Forest?
Forest High School reported the largest high-school enrollment in Forest, with 438 students in 2024–25 (grades 09–12). Size is a description of the campus, not a quality measure.
Are there charter schools in Forest?
No school with an address in Forest is identified as a charter school in the current NCES directory. Families may still have charter or virtual options elsewhere in Mississippi.
What is the typical student–teacher ratio in Forest schools?
The median reported student–teacher ratio across Forest public schools is 15.5:1, higher than the Mississippi school median of 13.9:1. The ratio divides enrollment by classroom-teacher FTE; it is not an average class size.
Does living in Forest guarantee a seat at a specific school?
No. Assignment depends on the district's attendance boundaries, programs, and enrollment rules, which can split a city or cross city lines. Use the district profile and its official boundary or school-locator tool to confirm the assigned school for an exact address.
Nearby Mississippi cities
Sources: NCES Common Core of Data 2025–26 preliminary directory (schools, grades, addresses, charter status) and 2024–25 nonfiscal files (enrollment, teachers, race/ethnicity, meal eligibility); Civil Rights Data Collection 2021–22 (AP and computer science). Cities are grouped by school mailing address. Methodology · All Mississippi cities