Best Public Schools in Carriere, MS

The city of Carriere, Mississippi is home to three schools that serve students from elementary through high school: Pearl River Central Elementary, Pearl River Central High School, and Pearl River Central Junior High. These schools are part of the Pearl River County School District and serve a predominantly white student population with high rates of economic disadvantage.

Among the three schools, Pearl River Central High School stands out as the top performer, ranking 61 out of 228 Mississippi high schools and earning a 4-star rating. The high school consistently achieves high proficiency rates on end-of-course exams, exceeding state averages in Algebra I, Biology, and U.S. History. In contrast, Pearl River Central Junior High shows room for improvement, with lower-than-average proficiency rates in 6th and 7th grade English Language Arts.

While the schools in Carriere generally perform well on state assessments, they face significant challenges in serving their student populations, which have extremely high rates of free and reduced-price lunch eligibility, ranging from 99.61% to 99.8%. This suggests a need for additional resources and support services to address the needs of these economically disadvantaged students. Additionally, the lack of racial diversity in the schools, with a predominantly white student body, may impact the learning experiences and perspectives within the school communities.