Public schools in Laurel, MS
16 open public schools with an address in Laurel, operated by 2 education agencies. Compare size, staffing, grade spans, and school type, then confirm assignment with the district.
Public schools
16
NCES preliminary directory 2025–26
Reported students
8,330
16 schools reporting · NCES 2024–25
Median student–teacher ratio
14.3:1
Mississippi median 13.9:1
Charter schools
0
1 magnet · 0 virtual
An overview of Laurel public schools
The federal directory lists 16 public schools in Laurel, MS: 7 elementary, 2 middle, 5 high, 2 combined or other. The 16 schools that reported 2024–25 membership enrolled 8,330 students, an average of 521 per school. The largest campus is West Jones High School (1,587 students), and the largest elementary school is West Jones Elementary School (1,114).
Jones County School District operates the most schools here (8), and 2 regular districts have at least one Laurel 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 14.3:1, similar to 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.
School choice options include 1 magnet school. Application windows and lotteries usually open months before the school year.
Among 3 high and combined schools with 2021–22 civil-rights data, 3 reported students enrolled in AP courses and 2 of 3 reported computer-science classes. Confirm current course catalogs directly with each school.
About 80% 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 Laurel
Elementary schools in Laurel
7| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| East Jones Elementary Jones County School District | PK–06 | 794 | 13.1:1 | |
| Glade Elementary Jones County School District | PK–06 | 423 | 12:1 | |
| Laurel Magnet School Of The Arts Laurel School District · Magnet | PK–06 | 323 | 15.9:1 | |
| Nora Davis Elementary Laurel School District | 02–04 | 519 | 14.6:1 | |
| North Jones Elementary School Jones County School District | PK–06 | 854 | 14.3:1 | |
| Oak Park Elementary School Laurel School District | PK–01 | 405 | 19.2:1 | |
| West Jones Elementary School Jones County School District | PK–06 | 1,114 | 14.3:1 |
Middle schools in Laurel
2| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Laurel Middle School Laurel School District | 07–08 | 388 | 16.6:1 | |
| Laurel Upper Elementary Laurel School District | 05–06 | 253 | 13.9:1 |
High schools in Laurel
5| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jones Co Career & Technical Education Ctr Jones County School District · Career and Technical School | 08–12 | 0 | — | |
| Laurel High School Laurel School District | 09–12 | 732 | 17.2:1 | |
| Laurel High School Voc Complex Laurel School District · Career and Technical School | 08–12 | 0 | — | |
| Northeast Jones High School Jones County School District | 07–13 | 938 | 10.5:1 | |
| West Jones High School Jones County School District | 07–13 | 1,587 | 14.1:1 |
Combined, early-childhood, and other schools in Laurel
2| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jones County Learning Center Jones County School District · Alternative School | 01–12 | 0 | — | |
| Laurel Education Center Laurel School District · Alternative School | 01–12 | 0 | — |
Student demographics
Race and ethnicity share of reported enrollment
- White38.6%
- Hispanic15.8%
- Black40.5%
- Asian0.4%
- American Indian / Alaska Native0.7%
- Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander0%
- Multiracial4%
Enrollment-weighted across 12 Laurel schools with NCES CCD 2024–25 race/ethnicity counts (8,330 students). Privacy suppression can leave small gaps.
Questions about public schools in Laurel
How many public schools are in Laurel, MS?
The current NCES directory lists 16 open public schools with a location address in Laurel: 7 elementary, 2 middle, 5 high, 2 combined or other. Together they reported 8,330 students in 2024–25. The count includes charter, alternative, and special-purpose public schools; it excludes private schools.
Which school districts serve Laurel?
Schools with an address in Laurel belong to 2 education agencies, led by Jones County School District (8 schools), Laurel School District (8 schools). A mailing city is not an attendance boundary; confirm the district for a specific address.
What is the largest public high school in Laurel?
West Jones High School reported the largest high-school enrollment in Laurel, with 1,587 students in 2024–25 (grades 07–13). Size is a description of the campus, not a quality measure.
Are there charter schools in Laurel?
No school with an address in Laurel 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 Laurel schools?
The median reported student–teacher ratio across Laurel public schools is 14.3:1, similar to 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 Laurel 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