Economic Development

K-12 Education

Greater Hattiesburg is home to eight K-12 public school districts and a variety of private school options.  Our K-12 base in Greater Hattiesburg is stellar including three high performing districts located throughout the region and two of the three best high schools in the state located in Greater Hattiesburg.  ACT scores in three of the districts far exceed state averages and are on par with national averages.  Greater Hattiesburg is an education community at its core and is often lauded as one of the state's highest achieving areas regarding K-12 public education. 

Seven of the region's eight school districts in our three county region are currently rated successful or high performing based upon 2011-2012 Accountability Status Rankings compiled by the Mississippi Department of Education.  The Mississippi Curriculum Test, 2nd Edition (MCT2) measures the proficiency of students in grades 3-8 in various subjects and serves as another key performance indicator.  Greater Hattiesburg's top performing districts far outpace state averages on MCT2 tests.  Greater Hattiesburg is filled with a variety of schools that meet and often exceed state and national averages and parental expectations.  From pre-school to graduate school, our schools are committed to excellence, offering a variety of innovative educational programs that challenge students to reach higher to achieve their goals.

Recently, Oak Grove High School, part of the Lamar County School District, was named the second best high school in Mississippi, in the top 8% in United States by the 2013 U.S. News and World Report Best High Schools Rankings. Petal High School, part of the Petal School District, was ranked the third best high school in the state by the report. Both high schools are located in Greater Hattiesburg.