Pearl Upper School

Q: Is Pearl Upper School a good school?

Pearl Upper School ranks 106 th of 390 Mississippi elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 4 stars out of 5.

Summary:

Pearl Upper School is a public elementary school serving grades 4-5 in the Pearl Public School District in Pearl, MS, with 585 students and a student-teacher ratio of 13.8. This standout school has consistently been ranked among the top elementary schools in Mississippi, maintaining a 4-star rating from SchoolDigger.

Pearl Upper School's strong academic performance sets it apart, with students significantly outperforming state averages in MAAP (Mississippi Academic Assessment Program) test scores across English Language Arts, Mathematics, and Science. In 2023-2024, the school had 63.2% proficiency in 4th grade ELA, 56.7% in 5th grade ELA, 68.9% in 4th grade Math, and 57.8% in 5th grade Math - all well above the state averages. The school's 5th grade Science proficiency rate of 74.3% was also higher than the state average of 71.2%. This consistent high performance places Pearl Upper School well above the Pearl Public School District and state averages.

Despite the school's high-needs student population, with over 99% of students receiving free or reduced-price lunch, Pearl Upper School has shown steady improvement in its MAAP test scores over the past 4 years. When compared to nearby schools like Richland Upper Elementary and Northside Elementary, which are also in the top quartile of Mississippi elementary schools, Pearl Upper School stands out as a model of educational excellence, delivering exceptional outcomes for its diverse student population.

Detail:

Public 4-5

400 Treasure Cove
Pearl, MS 39208

(601) 932-7981

District: Pearl Public School District

SchoolDigger Rank:
106^th of 390 Mississippi Elementary Schools

Per Pupil Expenditures: $10,011

Students who attend Pearl Upper School usually attend:

Middle:	Pearl Junior High School
High:	Pearl High School

Student/teacher ratio: 13.8

Number of students: 590

Racial breakdown:

White:

47.8%

African American:

34.9%

Hispanic:

9.0%

Free/discounted lunch recipients: 69%

See top rated Mississippi elementary schools

Compare Pearl Upper School to nearby elementary schools!

Performance Trends

Compare Details Pearl Upper School ranks better than 72.8% of elementary schools in Mississippi. (See more...)

Compare Details In 2024 the calculated Average Standard Score was 70.81. (See more...)

Chronic absenteeism in a school refers to a situation where students repeatedly miss school, with the threshold often defined as missing 10% or more of school days for any reason, excused or unexcused.

Student Body

Compare Details Pearl Upper School has the smallest elementary school student body size in the Pearl Public School District. Racial makeup is: White (47.8%), African American (34.9%), Hispanic (9%). (See more...)

Compare Details 69% of students are receiving a free or discounted lunch. This is the highest percentage in the Pearl Public School District. (See more...)

Teachers

Compare Details The student/teacher ratio at Pearl Upper School is 13.8. 1 elementary schools in the Pearl Public School District have better student/teacher ratios. (See more...)

Compare Pearl Upper School employs 42.4 full-time teachers.

Finance

Compare Details The average total spent per student at Pearl Upper School is $10,011, which is the lowest among 3 elementary schools in the Pearl Public School District!

Schooldigger Rankings:

Pearl Upper School was not ranked this year due to insufficient test score data.

Pearl Public School District:

SchoolDigger ranks Pearl Public School District 44^th of 130 Mississippi school districts. (See district ranking list.)

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Rank History for Pearl Upper School

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Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Elementary Schools	MS State Percentile
2008	68.03	117^th	394	70.3%
2009	71.31	98^th	392	75.0%
2010	56.08	176^th	403	56.3%
2011	63.63	155^th	418	62.9%
2012	65.48	143^rd	414	65.5%
2013	68.71	126^th	408	69.1%
2014	68.03	118^th	394	70.1%
2015	83.67	50^th	402	87.6%
2016	77.19	72^nd	394	81.7%
2017	79.62	68^th	406	83.3%
2018	74.35	95^th	404	76.5%
2019	76.53	80^th	397	79.8%
2021	74.57	94^th	381	75.3%
2022	72.36	95^th	382	75.1%
2023	74.81	82^nd	377	78.2%
2024	70.81	106^th	390	72.8%

See the entire list of Mississippi Elementary School Rankings!

Data source: test scores: Mississippi Department of Education, rankings: SchoolDigger.com

Data source: Mississippi Department of Education

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Enrollment information for Pearl Upper School

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Year	White	African American	Asian	Hispanic	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Total
1990	503	162	1	1	0	n/a	n/a	667
1991	551	151	5	0	0	n/a	n/a	707
1992	544	173	0	0	0	n/a	n/a	717
1993	547	162	5	2	0	n/a	n/a	716
1994	507	174	1	5	0	n/a	n/a	687
1995	491	158	5	5	0	n/a	n/a	659
1996	491	158	5	5	0	n/a	n/a	659
1997	476	141	5	7	0	n/a	n/a	629
1998	473	139	5	8	0	n/a	n/a	625
1999	475	122	3	6	0	n/a	n/a	606
2000	464	127	3	7	0	n/a	n/a	601
2001	460	150	3	17	0	n/a	n/a	630
2002	417	147	3	12	1	n/a	n/a	580
2003	417	147	3	12	1	n/a	n/a	580
2004	406	154	4	14	3	n/a	n/a	581
2005	386	173	4	14	1	n/a	n/a	578
2006	423	176	4	20	1	n/a	n/a	624
2007	408	173	7	24	2	n/a	n/a	614
2008	950	456	12	82	1	n/a	n/a	1501
2009	920	475	10	98	0	0	0	1503
2010	366	205	3	55	0	0	1	630
2011	362	205	7	54	0	0	0	628
2012	345	210	7	45	0	0	7	614
2013	355	203	6	41	0	0	13	618
2014	332	195	7	35	1	0	21	591
2015	320	213	17	32	0	0	22	604
2016	311	224	11	36	0	0	27	609
2017	331	228	8	44	0	0	42	653
2018	374	230	9	49	0	0	37	699
2019	373	276	7	46	0	2	34	738
2020	305	275	8	46	0	4	37	675
2021	280	215	2	46	0	3	35	581
2022	277	230	2	44	0	5	42	600
2023	283	212	4	47	1	4	34	585
2024	282	206	6	53	1	2	40	590

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Enrollment/Ethnicity

For more information about how the Department of Education defines ethnicity, see Defining Race and Ethnicity Data, National Center for Education Statistics

Students eligible for free or discounted lunch at Pearl Upper School

Compare

Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
1990	667	32.4	20.5	n/a
1991	707	34.2	20.6	n/a
1992	717	35.0	20.4	30.4
1993	716	35.1	20.4	33.1
1994	687	36.1	19.0	31.9
1995	659	35.9	18.4	29.6
1996	659	35.9	18.4	29.6
1997	629	37.4	16.8	31.6
1998	625	37.6	16.6	30.6
1999	606	36.1	16.8	40.1
2000	601	34.6	17.4	39.8
2001	630	32.5	19.4	38.9
2002	580	30.5	19.0	46.9
2003	580	30.5	19.0	46.9
2004	581	31.8	18.3	53.5
2005	578	32.3	17.9	54.8
2006	624	32.4	19.3	57.9
2007	614	35.0	17.5	57.8
2008	1501	98.0	15.3	58.7
2009	1503	99.1	15.2	59.6
2010	630	36.8	17.1	68.9
2011	628	33.6	18.6	68.9
2012	614	33.2	18.4	68.1
2013	618	34.1	18.0	70.1
2014	591	33.4	17.6	66.5
2015	604	33.0	18.3	67.7
2016	609	35.0	17.4	71.3
2017	653	36.4	17.9	72
2018	699	39.7	17.5	70.7
2019	738	41.8	17.6	68
2020	675	44.4	15.1	69.3
2021	581	43.2	13.4	99.5
2022	600	43.0	13.9	99.5
2023	585	42.1	13.8	99.5
2024	590	42.4	13.8	69

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Students eligible for discounted/free lunch:

The National School Lunch Program (NSLP) provides low-cost or free meals to students in U.S. public and nonprofit private schools based on household income. Those with incomes below 130% of the poverty line receive free lunch, while those between 130% and 185% qualify for reduced-price lunch. The percentage of students receiving free or reduced-price lunch serves as a marker for poverty, as it reflects the socioeconomic status of families in a given school or district. A higher FRPL rate typically indicates a higher concentration of low-income families, suggesting that the school or district may face additional challenges in providing adequate resources and support for student success.

Student/Teacher Ratio Pearl Upper School

Compare

Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
1990	667	32.4	20.5	n/a
1991	707	34.2	20.6	n/a
1992	717	35.0	20.4	30.4
1993	716	35.1	20.4	33.1
1994	687	36.1	19.0	31.9
1995	659	35.9	18.4	29.6
1996	659	35.9	18.4	29.6
1997	629	37.4	16.8	31.6
1998	625	37.6	16.6	30.6
1999	606	36.1	16.8	40.1
2000	601	34.6	17.4	39.8
2001	630	32.5	19.4	38.9
2002	580	30.5	19.0	46.9
2003	580	30.5	19.0	46.9
2004	581	31.8	18.3	53.5
2005	578	32.3	17.9	54.8
2006	624	32.4	19.3	57.9
2007	614	35.0	17.5	57.8
2008	1501	98.0	15.3	58.7
2009	1503	99.1	15.2	59.6
2010	630	36.8	17.1	68.9
2011	628	33.6	18.6	68.9
2012	614	33.2	18.4	68.1
2013	618	34.1	18.0	70.1
2014	591	33.4	17.6	66.5
2015	604	33.0	18.3	67.7
2016	609	35.0	17.4	71.3
2017	653	36.4	17.9	72
2018	699	39.7	17.5	70.7
2019	738	41.8	17.6	68
2020	675	44.4	15.1	69.3
2021	581	43.2	13.4	99.5
2022	600	43.0	13.9	99.5
2023	585	42.1	13.8	99.5
2024	590	42.4	13.8	69

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Student-Teacher Ratio

Student/teacher ratio is calculated by dividing the total number of students by the total number of full-time equivalent teachers. Please note that a smaller student/teacher ratio does not necessarily translate to smaller class size. In some instances, schools hire teachers part time, and some teachers are hired for specialized instruction with very small class sizes. These and other factors contribute to the student/teacher ratio. Note: For private schools, Student/teacher ratio may not include Pre-Kindergarten.

Finances

Per Pupil Expenditures for Pearl Upper School

Year	Total Expenditures Per Pupil
2017	$6,451
2018	$6,311
2019	$7,085
2020	$8,283
2021	$8,463
2022	$10,010

Data source: Mississippi Department of Education

Pre and Post Pandemic Data

Impact of COVID-19 on Pearl Upper School

The coronavirus has had a profound impact on education in America. Learning shifted online overnight, attendance numbers dwindled, and enrollment decreased. SchoolDigger.com is making it easier for you to better assess how COVID-19 has impacted your school. Through the collection of pre-pandemic (2019) and current data, SchoolDigger.com is sharing test scores, enrollment numbers and school demographics from schools across the country – and we make it easy to see how impacted schools compare locally and statewide.

Rankings

Rank Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)	Rank Post pandemic (2022-2023)	Change (%)
Ranks 80^th of 397 Elementary schools	Ranks 82^nd of 377 Elementary schools	1.6%

Test Scores

	% proficient Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)	% proficient Post pandemic (2022-2023)	Change (%)
4th Grade English Language Arts (Pearl Upper School)	58.2	55.2	3%
4th Grade English Language Arts (Pearl Public School District)	58.2	55.2	3%
4th Grade English Language Arts (Mississippi)	48.5	53.4	4.9%
4th Grade Mathematics (Pearl Upper School)	54.4	60.3	5.9%
4th Grade Mathematics (Pearl Public School District)	54.4	60.3	5.9%
4th Grade Mathematics (Mississippi)	48.8	56.7	7.9%
5th Grade English Language Arts (Pearl Upper School)	54.9	61.3	6.4%
5th Grade English Language Arts (Pearl Public School District)	54.9	61.3	6.4%
5th Grade English Language Arts (Mississippi)	43	51.9	8.9%
5th Grade Mathematics (Pearl Upper School)	48.3	59.4	11.1%
5th Grade Mathematics (Pearl Public School District)	48.3	59.4	11.1%
5th Grade Mathematics (Mississippi)	38.9	44.3	5.4%
5th Grade Science (Pearl Upper School)	73.6	78	4.4%
5th Grade Science (Pearl Public School District)	73.6	78	4.4%
5th Grade Science (Mississippi)	55.9	64.3	8.4%

Student Body

	Number of students Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)	Number of students Post pandemic (2022-2023)	Change (%)
Total Students	738	585	20.7%
African American	276	212	23.2%
American Indian	0	1
Asian	7	4	42.9%
Hispanic	46	47	2.2%
Pacific Islander	2	4	100%
White	373	283	24.1%
Two or More Races	34	34
% Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients	68%	99.5%	31.5%

Schools Near Pearl Upper School

Choose columns to see: Summary School Students/Teachers Ranking Test Scores Finance All

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2024)				Ranking (2023)				MAAP English Language Arts (2024)				MAAP Mathematics (2024)				MAAP Science (2024)	Per Pupil Expenditures (2022)
Name	Type	Grades	Address	City	Zip	County	District	Is Charter	Is Magnet	Is Virtual	Is Title I	Phone	Enrollment	Full-time Teachers	Student/ Teacher Ratio	Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients	White	Black	Hispanic	Asian	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Average Standard Score (2024)	Statewide Rank (2024)	State Percentile (2024)	SchoolDigger Rating (2024)	Average Standard Score (2023)	Statewide Rank (2023)	State Percentile (2023)	Rank Change from Previous Year	MAAP English Language Arts 3rd Grade	MAAP English Language Arts 4th Grade	MAAP English Language Arts 5th Grade	MAAP English Language Arts 6th Grade	MAAP Mathematics 3rd Grade	MAAP Mathematics 4th Grade	MAAP Mathematics 5th Grade	MAAP Mathematics 6th Grade	MAAP Science 5th Grade	Total
Pearl Upper School	Public	4-5	400 Treasure Cove	Pearl	39208	Rankin County	Pearl Public School District	No	No	No	No	(601) 932-7981	590	42	13.8	69.0%	282 (47.8%)	206 (34.9%)	53 (9.0%)	6 (1.0%)	1 (0.2%)	2 (0.3%)	40 (6.8%)	70.8	106^th of 390 public elementary schools	72.8%		74.8	82^nd of 377 public elementary schools	78.2%	24		63.2	56.7			68.9	57.8		74.3	$10,011
Pearl Lower Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-1	160 Mary Ann Drive	Pearl	39208	Rankin County	Pearl Public School District	No	No	No	Yes	(601) 932-7976	740	65	11.3	65.9%	319 (43.1%)	265 (35.8%)	59 (8.0%)	6 (0.8%)	1 (0.1%)	4 (0.5%)	86 (11.6%)								(n/a)										$10,525
Northside Elementary School	Public	2-3	3600 Harle Street	Pearl	39208	Rankin County	Pearl Public School District	No	No	No	Yes	(601) 932-7971	632	40	15.8	64.9%	302 (47.8%)	227 (35.9%)	48 (7.6%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	8 (1.3%)	46 (7.3%)								(n/a)	74.3				62.2					$10,324
Rouse Elementary	Public	PK, KG-1	151 Boyce-Thompson Drive	Brandon	39042	Rankin County	Rankin County School District	No	No	No	No	(601) 825-5437	819	68	12.0	38.8%	465 (56.8%)	265 (32.4%)	13 (1.6%)	5 (0.6%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	71 (8.7%)								(n/a)										$10,793
Casey Elementary School	Public	K-5	2101 Lake Circle	Jackson	39211	Hinds County	Jackson Public School District	No	No	No	Yes	(601) 987-3510	250	20	12.5	100.0%	7 (2.8%)	235 (94.0%)	4 (1.6%)	2 (0.8%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (0.8%)	62.7	145^th of 390 public elementary schools	62.8%		81.1	54^th of 377 public elementary schools	85.7%	91	47.7	62.2	56.9		40.9	66.7	56.9		81.0	$14,273
Flowood Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	102 Winner's Circle	Flowood	39232	Rankin County	Rankin County School District	No	No	No	No	(601) 992-6277	473	37	12.7	46.9%	199 (42.1%)	160 (33.8%)	31 (6.6%)	31 (6.6%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	52 (11.0%)	73.6	93^rd of 390 public elementary schools	76.2%		68.7	112^th of 377 public elementary schools	70.3%	19	81.1	67.8	68.2		58.0	57.6	62.7		69.3	$10,318
Ida B. Wells Apac School	Public	4-5	1120 Riverside Drive	Jackson	39202	Hinds County	Jackson Public School District	No	No	No	Yes	(601) 960-5387	34	4	7.8	100.0%	8 (23.5%)	24 (70.6%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (2.9%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (2.9%)	96.7	4^th of 390 public elementary schools	99.0%					(n/a)		86.7	93.8			86.6	81.3		100.0	$61,034
Barack H Obama Elementary School	Public, Magnet	K-5	750 N Congress Street	Jackson	39202	Hinds County	Jackson Public School District	No	Yes	No	Yes	(601) 960-5333	292	18	15.8	100.0%	3 (1.0%)	282 (96.6%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	6 (2.1%)	91.5	17^th of 390 public elementary schools	95.6%					(n/a)	89.6	84.0	89.3		66.7	76.0	82.9		87.3	$13,528
Richland Upper Elementary	Public	3-6	175 Wilson Drive	Richland	39218	Rankin County	Rankin County School District	No	No	No	Yes	(601) 939-2288	469	35	13.2	80.2%	219 (46.7%)	115 (24.5%)	72 (15.4%)	7 (1.5%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	56 (11.9%)	61.2	149^th of 390 public elementary schools	61.8%		59	148^th of 377 public elementary schools	60.7%	1	61.1	54.3	49.0	40.9	66.1	58.8	49.1	57.0	73.8	$9,638
Spann Elementary School	Public	K-5	1615 Brecon Drive	Jackson	39211	Hinds County	Jackson Public School District	No	No	No	Yes	(601) 987-3532	381	28	13.5	100.0%	7 (1.8%)	292 (76.6%)	76 (19.9%)	2 (0.5%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.3%)	3 (0.8%)	24.4	309^th of 390 public elementary schools	20.8%		40.9	224^th of 377 public elementary schools	40.6%	85	50.7	39.7	32.7		37.6	25.4	34.5		54.6	$12,851

Frequently Asked Questions about Pearl Upper School

What schools do graduates of Pearl Upper School attend?

Students who attend Pearl Upper School usually go on to attend:

Middle : Pearl Junior High School
High : Pearl High School

What is the racial makeup of Pearl Upper School?

Students at Pearl Upper School are 48% White, 35% African American, 9% Hispanic, 7% Two or more races, 1% Asian.

What district is Pearl Upper School in?

Pearl Public School District

How many students attend Pearl Upper School?

In the 2023-24 school year, 590 students attended Pearl Upper School.

Is Pearl Upper School a good school?

Pearl Upper School ranks 106^th of 390 Mississippi elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 4 stars out of 5.

Rate Pearl Upper School!

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SchoolDigger data sources: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education, the U.S. Census Bureau and the Mississippi Department of Education.

IMPORTANT DISCLAIMERS: Not all boundaries are included. We make every effort to ensure that boundaries are up-to-date. But it's important to note that these are approximations and are for general informational purposes only. To verify legal descriptions of boundaries or school locations, contact your local tax assessor's office and/or school district.