Public schools in Petal, MS
6 open public schools with an address in Petal, operated by 2 education agencies. Compare size, staffing, grade spans, and school type, then confirm assignment with the district.
Public schools
6
NCES preliminary directory 2025–26
Reported students
4,426
6 schools reporting · NCES 2024–25
Median student–teacher ratio
12.8:1
Mississippi median 13.9:1
Charter schools
0
0 virtual
An overview of Petal public schools
The federal directory lists 6 public schools in Petal, MS: 3 elementary, 2 middle, 1 high. The 6 schools that reported 2024–25 membership enrolled 4,426 students, an average of 738 per school. The largest campus is Petal High School (1,324 students), and the largest elementary school is Petal Primary School (1,016).
Petal School District operates the most schools here (5), and 2 regular districts have at least one Petal 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 12.8:1, lower 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.
About 60% 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 Petal
Elementary schools in Petal
3| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Petal Elementary 3-4 Petal School District | 03–04 | 636 | 13.3:1 | |
| Petal Primary School Petal School District | PK–02 | 1,016 | 13.6:1 | |
| Runnelstown School Perry County School District | PK–05 | 173 | 10:1 |
Middle schools in Petal
2| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Petal Middle School Petal School District | 07–08 | 645 | 12.8:1 | |
| Petal Upper Elementary Petal School District | 05–06 | 632 | 12.4:1 |
High schools in Petal
1| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Petal High School Petal School District | 09–13 | 1,324 | 12.8:1 |
Student demographics
Race and ethnicity share of reported enrollment
- White68.8%
- Hispanic8.3%
- Black17.7%
- Asian0.6%
- American Indian / Alaska Native0.1%
- Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander0.2%
- Multiracial4.4%
Enrollment-weighted across 6 Petal schools with NCES CCD 2024–25 race/ethnicity counts (4,426 students). Privacy suppression can leave small gaps.
Questions about public schools in Petal
How many public schools are in Petal, MS?
The current NCES directory lists 6 open public schools with a location address in Petal: 3 elementary, 2 middle, 1 high. Together they reported 4,426 students in 2024–25. The count includes charter, alternative, and special-purpose public schools; it excludes private schools.
Which school districts serve Petal?
Schools with an address in Petal belong to 2 education agencies, led by Petal School District (5 schools), Perry County School District (1 school). A mailing city is not an attendance boundary; confirm the district for a specific address.
What is the largest public high school in Petal?
Petal High School reported the largest high-school enrollment in Petal, with 1,324 students in 2024–25 (grades 09–13). Size is a description of the campus, not a quality measure.
Are there charter schools in Petal?
No school with an address in Petal 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 Petal schools?
The median reported student–teacher ratio across Petal public schools is 12.8:1, lower 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 Petal 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